The Tunisian town of Haffouz lies in an impoverished region known for high rates of joblessness and suicide, but every Friday traditional music and techno beats lift spirits in a dilapidated classroom.  Local children and teenagers come together in the afternoon to compose and rehearse music for a creative break from their bleak surroundings in the …

Music beats the blues in Tunisian youth projectFri, 23 Feb 2024 07:24:12 GMT Read More »

Kenya’s world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum will be laid to rest Friday in the nation’s athletics heartland after the 24-year-old died in a car accident.President William Ruto and World Athletics head Sebastian Coe are expected to be among the mourners at the funeral in the Rift Valley where Kiptum was born, trained and died.The father …

Kenyan marathon sensation Kiptum to be laid to restFri, 23 Feb 2024 03:56:24 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s President Macky Sall said Thursday his mandate would end as planned on April 2, but left open the new date for a presidential election which he postponed earlier this month.Sall has faced a clamour to set a date for the vote after his abrupt delay to the February 25 election triggered weeks of crisis.Amid …

Senegal’s Sall leaves open date for delayed presidential electionThu, 22 Feb 2024 21:38:10 GMT Read More »

The governor of Nigeria’s Lagos state on Thursday unveiled a series of measures aimed at easing the soaring cost of living after protests broke out.Nigeria is suffering an economic crisis with soaring inflation, leaving many people struggling to afford food.Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose state includes the 20 million people of the city of Lagos, listed …

Lagos state intervenes to ease Nigeria cost of living crisisThu, 22 Feb 2024 18:00:28 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s outgoing President Macky Sall was to appear live on national television on Thursday evening and could reveal his plans for elections after their unprecedented delay triggered weeks of crisis.Sall faces a growing clamour to set a date for the vote after he abruptly called off the February 25 presidential election with just three weeks …

Senegal president to go on live TV after weeks of turmoilThu, 22 Feb 2024 17:48:29 GMT Read More »

Hundreds of mourners paid an emotional tribute on Thursday to Kenya’s world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, ahead of his funeral in the nation’s athletics heartland.Kiptum, 24, was killed on February 11 in a road accident near the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, leaving Kenya and the world of athletics reeling.On the eve of Friday’s funeral, Kiptum’s …

Tearful tributes for Kenyan marathon prodigy KiptumThu, 22 Feb 2024 17:42:40 GMT Read More »

African cinema has seized the spotlight at this week’s Berlin film festival, probing contemporary realities while demanding attention to historical crimes.The 74th Berlinale, as the event is known, is the most politically minded of Europe’s top cinema showcases and has rolled out the red carpet for a range of high profile — and highly charged …

Restitution in focus as Africa takes Berlin fest spotlightThu, 22 Feb 2024 15:26:54 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s outgoing President Macky Sall is to address the nation Thursday in a live TV interview, which could reveal a date for elections after their unprecedented delay triggered weeks of crisis.Sall faces a growing clamour to set the vote after he abruptly called off the February 25 presidential election with just three weeks to go.Under …

Senegal president set for TV interview after weeks of turmoilThu, 22 Feb 2024 12:45:19 GMT Read More »

Hundreds of people gathered in the Kenyan athletics hub of Eldoret on Thursday for a funeral procession in honour of marathon prodigy Kelvin Kiptum, who died earlier this month when his car crashed into a tree. His coffin, encircled with flowers, was carried in a hearse through the streets of the town in the Rift Valley …

Funeral procession for Kenyan marathoner KiptumThu, 22 Feb 2024 09:27:43 GMT Read More »

Governments around the world are “reaching beyond their borders” to attack their own citizens abroad in order to crush dissent, Human Rights Watch said Thursday, urging more protection for them.The New York-based rights group said so-called “transnational repression” was having a “chilling effect” on political criticism and called on countries and international organisations to take …

Countries ‘reaching beyond borders’ to silence dissidents: HRWThu, 22 Feb 2024 05:10:25 GMT Read More »