Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado was granted a private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican.

Former Marseille coach Rolland Courbis, a charismatic figure of French soccer who became a prominent pundit, has died. He was 72.

Somalia says it has cancelled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates due to evidence the Gulf state is engaged in undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence.

Authorities have pledged to crack down on illegal dredging, but residents say enforcement remains inconsistent — as Lagos faces rising flood risks from the loss of its natural lagoon bu

Long-awaited hearings at the United Nations top court opened in The Hague on Monday in a case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya minority.

Ghana also settled all outstanding gas invoices owed to energy partners ENI and Vitol, paying around $480 million, and cleared about $393 million in legacy debts to Independent Power Producers, including major suppliers such as Karpowership and Cenpower

Activists say 544 people have been killed in the protests. Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of fuelling unrest in the country.

The Sancheoneo Festival in Hwacheon, South Korea, attracts large crowds for its freezing water challenges and trout fishing. The event is a key winter attraction.

The festival stands as a powerful reminder of Afro-Brazilian resilience and the enduring legacy of African traditions in Brazil’s cultural landscape.

Ugandan opposition candidate Bobi Wine brought his presidential campaign to the Kampala slum where he grew up ahead of Thursday’s elections.

The annual Kanchu Misogi ritual saw around 100 worshippers plunge into icy water at a Tokyo shrine on Sunday.

Over the weekend, United States President Donald Trump pledged to cut off all oil and money flowing to Cuba, and urged the nation to make a deal with the US.

During his first official visit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and India’s PM Modi discussed trade, technology, and green development, aiming to reduce reliance on China.

Uganda heads to the polls this Thursday, but for opposition leaders, the election is being overshadowed by concerns over political repression and the detention of government critics.

At a Pentecostal church in Kampala, worshippers are hoping for a peaceful election. Ugandan Catholic bishops have also called for a fair and nonviolent vote.

As fighting eased on Sunday, residents cautiously returned to contested neighbourhoods in the northern city of Aleppo. The area is now controlled by government forces, though unexploded ordnance continues to threaten civilian safety.

Thousands took to the streets in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States or Pakistan to express solidarity with protesters in Iran, amid the Iranian government’s growing crackdown.

Benin held parliamentary and local elections on Sunday, in a vote expected to strengthen the ruling coalition of outgoing President Patrice Talon, just one month after a failed coup attempt.

Over a hundred people brought humor to the London Tube on Sunday by joining the 2026 No Trousers Tube Ride, traveling in their underwear to break the winter routine.

In eastern DR Congo, humanitarian workers are facing rising risks as insecurity surges in the region. According to OCHA, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 48 incidents involving aid personnel were recorded in December 2025, with half occurring in South Kivu.

Thousands marched in Paris on 11. January supporting Iranian protesters, waving monarchy flags and calling for the return of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

A verified video shows bodies outside a Tehran morgue, indicating a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran, with human rights groups reporting numerous deaths.

As Sudan crosses the symbolic mark of 1,000 days of civil war, the country’s prime minister has announced the official return of the government to the capital, Khartoum.

China and Lesotho have agreed to deepen cooperation across key sectors following an official visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reaffirming strong bilateral ties and a shared commitment to development.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene to protect demonstrators amid a deadly crackdown by Iranian security forces.

Thousands of widows, unaware of their constitutional rights, face losing everything.

The 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986, is seeking re-election.

At a cost of $12.5 billion, the Bishoftu International Airport will feature four runways and accommodate up to 110 million passengers annually.

The Voodoo festival has become a real tourist magnet, attracting visitors from the continent and beyond every year.

Mohamed Salah scored and Egypt eliminated defending champion Ivory Coast to move into the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals after a 3-2 victory on Saturday, while Nigeria edged Algeria 2-0 to book a semi-final tie with Morocco

Beijing stressed its support for the country’s ‘national sovereignty’ in the wake of the its contested elections.

The announcement of the reform blueprint comes ahead of local government elections due later this year.

The Atlas Lions beat Cameroon 2-0 in their quarterfinal match on Friday.

More than 100,000 people have sought refuge in Burundi since December amid fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.

The operation came just days after another boat capsized off the Gambian coast killing more than 30 people.

Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors received their new passports at a ceremony in Conakry on Friday.

It includes football-themed works of art while showcasing artisanal Moroccan craftsmanship.

Brahim Díaz scored again and host Morocco joined Senegal in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over Cameroon on Friday

The United Nations says over 20 million Sudanese require health assistance while 21 million are in desperate need of food.

Ukrainian immigrants living in Cape Town urged South Africa to stop military cooperation with Moscow.