Madagascar’s president, from coup to calls to quitSun, 12 Oct 2025 14:14:12 GMT

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina first took power in a military-backed coup in 2009 and is now facing demands to quit from a youth-led protest movement backed by an army unit.After the CAPSAT military contingent sided Saturday with the demonstrators who have been protesting for more than two weeks, Rajoelina warned that “an attempt to seize …

Madagascar’s president, from coup to calls to quitSun, 12 Oct 2025 14:14:12 GMT Read More »

Madagascar president says power grab happening as army unit claims controlSun, 12 Oct 2025 13:59:11 GMT

A Madagascar army unit declared Sunday that it was taking control of all the country’s military forces as President Andry Rajoelina said an “attempt to seize power illegally” was under way.Soldiers from the CAPSAT contingent also joined thousands of people in the capital to remember lives lost in more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations …

Madagascar president says power grab happening as army unit claims controlSun, 12 Oct 2025 13:59:11 GMT Read More »

Cameroon holds presidential poll with Biya poised for 8th termSun, 12 Oct 2025 13:42:00 GMT

Voters cast their ballots Sunday in Cameroon’s presidential elections, which 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, is expected to win, extending his already 43-year grip on power.In Yaounde, Cameroonians crowded outside polling stations at midday, according to AFP journalists.Biya faces 11 opponents, including former employment minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 79, who …

Cameroon holds presidential poll with Biya poised for 8th termSun, 12 Oct 2025 13:42:00 GMT Read More »

Pakistan recover to 313-5 after South Africa strike back in first Test

Pakistan rode on a brilliant 93 from Imam-ul-Haq to reach 313-5 after a brief fightback from South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Lahore on Sunday.Shan Masood hit 76, but Haq missed out on his hundred and Pakistan slumped to 199-5 as four wickets fell quickly.Mohammad Rizwan, 62 not out, and Salman Agha, unbeaten 52 at the close, rebuilt the innings during an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 114 in the final session on a spin-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch.Rizwan hit two fours and two sixes in his 12th Test half-century while Agha had two fours and a six in reaching his 10th fifty.Pakistan dominated most of the first two sessions, but then had a mini-collapse from 163-1 to 199-5 as they lost four wickets for 36 runs, the last three without adding a run either side of the tea interval.”We have batted us to a good position,” said Haq, playing his first Test since December 2023. “We must score over 400 to get us in a strong position. Regarding missing a hundred, that’s always disappointing.”Spinner Prenelan Subrayen trapped Masood lbw for 76, including nine fours and a six, to end a 161-run stand with Haq. Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy then had Haq caught at short-leg by Tony de Zorzi, after a 236-minute knock that included seven fours and a six.Next ball — the last before tea — Muthusamy had Saud Shakeel caught and bowled to bring South Africa back into the game at 199-4.Local hero Babar Azam fell for 23, trapped leg-before by Harmer after the interval to make it 199-5 and leave a good 10,000 holiday crowd disappointed.South Africa could have been in a better position had they not dropped Masood on 61 and Haq on 72 with Subrayen the unlucky bowler on both occasions.  South Africa spinner Simon Harmer hoped they could finish off the Pakistan innings quickly on day two.”We had a good day and now need to take positives from today and keep Pakistan under 400,” he said. “That would be great because this pitch will take more spin as the match progresses,” said Harmer, who had figures of 1-75. With the pitch likely to turn, Masood opted to bat after winning the toss and named specialist spin duo Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in the teamPakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique leg before to pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada off the third ball of the day.South African captain Aiden Markram turned to his spinners in the sixth over and by lunch had used all three — Subrayen, Harmer and Muthusamy.But there were no further dramas in the opening session as Pakistan reached 107-1 at lunch after Haq had brought up his 10th Test fifty.The two-match series is part of the new World Test Championship two-year cycle. South Africa won the title by beating Australia in June.