Africa

Basotho women are increasingly undergoing unlicensed cosmetic and surgery procedures to enhance their physical appearance, sparking concerns among local health practitioners; butt lifting, breast enlargement and skin lightening are the biggest trends

All the candidacies presented by the movement Reappropriation of Gabon and its Independence for its Reconstruction REAGIR party for the elections scheduled for 27 September have been annulled by the Constitutional Court, AGP reported

A wave of kidnappings has hit Bambui and Bambuli university communities: professors, students, staff and Sisters have been fallen victims of unidentified gunmen; incidents escalated triggering a call for vigilance, especially in upcoming pre-election days

Most bus stops in Praia are in poor condition, lacking horizontal or vertical signage, lighting, and basic equipment such as benches, trash cans, shelters, a new study on bus stops and lines for urban public passenger transport in Praia shows

Corimba Marginal Infrastructure, Phase I, will be completed in 20 months: financed by a Portuguese credit line, works have been assigned to Portuguese Mota-Engil; once completed the project will comprise 2 road interchanges, tunnels and 400 social housing

Djibouti Telecom will extend its DARE1 submarine cable to South Africa by 2028, confirming its ambition to transform Djibouti into a continental digital hub; the new section, 3.200-3.500 km long, will connect Mombasa, KE to Mtunzini, Durban, SA

The use of ethanol in the production of alcoholic beverages has been banned and only agricultural ethyl alcohol is allowed for the manufacture and standardisation of these products; the government decree aims at discouraging harmful practices

Music industry is mourning the loss of veteran reggae artist Ras Sheehama, a pioneer whose work shaped Namibia’s sound and inspired generations; known for his lyrics and style, he rose to success in the 1990s one of the country’s most recognisable voices

With 3rd term of 2025 school year beginning on 9 September, educators and teachers are bound to struggle with salaries around USD270, well below the real cost of living, as Government hinted that no increments are planned

Society of Architects and Parliamentary Forum for Creatives have urged to use professionals in construction, reminding that building collapses and consequent fatalities that have plagued Uganda could have been avoided with trained personnel

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival for her film The Voice of Hind Rajab; she dedicated the award "to the Palestinian Red Crescent and to all those who are trying to save lives in Gaza"

4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair opened in Algiers with renewed commitment to economic integration; Selma Malika Haddadi, Vice-Chairperson of the AU Commission, urged to believe in "Made in Africa" and progress in building an integrated market

The results of the second round of the 2025 baccalaureate exam show a success rate of 37,5%, up from the previous year; the announcement was made 4 September by the Minister of State for National Education, on Radio Centrafrique.