The long-suffering people of Niger’s capital, Niamey, are used to intermittent power cuts. But since the coup d’etat one week ago, interminable blackouts have tested their patience to the limit.Faced with hours of enforced downtime every day, the poorer districts of the capital erupt into cheers of relief when lights, fridges and tools finally hum …

Coup sanctions plunge Niamey into the darkMon, 07 Aug 2023 05:15:28 GMT Read More »

Morocco’s presence in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup is a dream come true for the tournament debutants, and a clash with a much-fancied France side makes Tuesday’s game a particularly special occasion for their coach.Reynald Pedros, 51, is a former France international midfielder who played alongside Zinedine Zidane in the team that …

France clash is special moment for Morocco World Cup coach PedrosMon, 07 Aug 2023 05:15:23 GMT Read More »

It was the news Kenya’s timber industry had waited over five years to hear: a ban on logging was over, and the country’s forests were once again open for business.But conservationists were dismayed at the announcement in July by President William Ruto, who had cast himself as a champion of the environment, and made planting …

Relief and despair: repeal of logging ban divides KenyaMon, 07 Aug 2023 04:40:01 GMT Read More »

Niger closed its airspace due to the “threat of intervention” as the junta defied a deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible military action.ECOWAS issued its ultimatum a week ago, demanding the generals relinquish power by midnight Sunday (2300 GMT).Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 …

Niger closes airspace over ‘threat of intervention’ as junta defies deadlineMon, 07 Aug 2023 03:23:52 GMT Read More »

Twenty-six of the 33 Springboks who won the last Rugby World Cup in Japan four years ago are contenders for places in the next edition in France, starting on September 8.And at least 24 of the survivors are likely to be included in the 2023 squad, which will be named at a TV studio in …

World champion Springboks face ‘very difficult’ task picking squadMon, 07 Aug 2023 01:03:01 GMT Read More »

Niger’s coup leaders said they closed the country’s airspace shortly before the expiration of a deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS for them to hand back power or face possible military intervention.ECOWAS issued its ultimatum a week ago, demanding the junta reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by midnight Sunday (2300 GMT).Bazoum was overthrown …

Niger’s military rulers close airspace as ECOWAS deadline passesMon, 07 Aug 2023 00:08:54 GMT Read More »

At least 30 migrants are missing following two shipwrecks off the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to survivor testimony, as rescuers on Sunday winched to safety 34 others stranded on the rocks by rough seas.Around 28 people were reported lost at sea by survivors on one boat, while three were reported missing from the second, …

Stranded migrants saved, but dozens missing off Italy in rough seasSun, 06 Aug 2023 22:44:42 GMT Read More »

France is suspending development aid and budgetary assistance to Burkina Faso, its foreign ministry announced Sunday.The statement comes days after Burkina Faso and Mali announced that they would consider any military intervention against the new military rulers in Niger as a “declaration of war”.The West African bloc ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger’s new rulers with …

France suspends aid to Burkina FasoSun, 06 Aug 2023 22:39:39 GMT Read More »

Thousands of coup supporters in Niger gathered Sunday for a rally to cheer on the generals claiming power, as a deadline set by the west African bloc for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention was set to lapse.The ECOWAS bloc, chaired by regional military powerhouse and Niger’s neighbour Nigeria, had given …

Niger military on brink of deadline to reverse coupSun, 06 Aug 2023 20:57:08 GMT Read More »

The ‘big three’ South African clubs had mixed results as the league season began this weekend with title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns winning, Kaizer Chiefs drawing and Orlando Pirates losing.Sundowns, seeking to win the Premiership a seventh straight time, triumphed 2-1 at Sekhukhune United in a match where both sides had a player sent off.Chiefs, hoping to …

Sundowns win, Chiefs held, Pirates sunk as S. Africa season startsSun, 06 Aug 2023 20:16:04 GMT Read More »