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Aftershocks rattle the survivors of a devastating Indonesian earthquake that killed more than 100 people, as officials urgently appeal for medicine and doctors to treat the hundreds injured.
A Pakistani plane carrying 48 people crashed Wednesday in the country's mountainous north and burst into flames killing everyone on board, authorities said, in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country's history
A Japan doll shop hopes for a good new year by making traditional wooden rackets with US President-elect Donald Trump's face on them.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino vows "zero tolerance" for child sex abuse in football following an escalating scandal involving coaches and former players in England.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace prize for his commitment to sign a peace deal with the FARC rebel group, will bring a sculpture symbolizing peace by artist Ana Gonzalez as a present for the Swedish royals and Pope Francis, First Lady Maria Clemencia Rodriguez de Santos told AFP during an interview.
There's no design school in Madagascar, but that hasn't held back these up-and-coming designers who draw on their own style and use local materials, recycled textiles and a bit of 'hustle' to create colourful and innovative designs.
Time magazine says Donald Trump was a "clear choice" for its Person of the Year cover, as the US president-elect "dominated headlines" and "re-wrote the rules of the American political establishment". Time's executive editor also made sure to point out to AFP that as ever, the cover is "not an honor or an award" but a measure of influence.
A Pakistani plane carrying 48 people crashes in the country's mountainous north and bursts into flames, authorities say, rescue workers pulled dozens of bodies from the wreckage, no survivors found.
Rescuers are combing through the rubble for survivors after an earthquake Wednesday morning in Indonesia's Aceh province. At least 102 people were killed and 136 seriously injured. The shallow 6.5-magnitude quake damaged homes, shops and mosques in the district of Pidie Jaya, completely destroying hundreds of structures.
PIA Plain Crash ,Junaid Jamshed & Famly Died in Plan Crash. PIA Plane Crash PK-661 Chitral to Islamabad Pakistan Junaid Jamshed 7 December 2016. Junaid Jamshed, a legendary figure in Pakistani pop music, was among the 48 people killed when a plane crashed into a hillside north of Islamabad,
PIA Plane Crash PK-661 Chitral to Islamabad Pakistan Junaid Jamshed 7 December 2016. Junaid Jamshed, a pop star turned evangelical Muslim cleric and fashion designer, was on board the plane  
A plane carrying 81 people, including members from Brazil’s Chapecoense football team, has crashed in Colombia. There were 72 passengers and nine crew on board. Some people are reported to have survived, including goalkeeper Alan Ruschel. The team was scheduled to play a Copa Sudamericana finals match against Atlético Nacional in Medellin on Wednesday
Commander Eric Malbrunot, aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, says he and the French military are determined in their fight against Islamic State in Operation Inherent Resolve
Iraqi army units advanced from southeast Mosul towards a bridge across the Tigris in the city center on Tuesday, in an attack that could give fresh impetus to the hard fought, seven-week battle for Islamic State's northern Iraq stronghold.
Libyan forces backed by U.S. air strikes finish clearing the last Islamic State hold-out in Sirte after a six-month battle for the militant group's former North African stronghold.
Mother of five Miaad al-Jubbouri is the sole woman in a joint force of Iraqi army and tribal militias fighting Islamic State in northern Iraq.
Opponents of a controversial oil pipeline through North Dakota celebrate after the U.S. Army refuses permission to run it under Lake Oahe. 
The ashes of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro are placed in a stone tomb in a Santiago de Cuba cemetery, the final resting place of the revolutionary leader.
Ghanaians are awaiting the official results in their presidential election, though the opposition is calling on the incumbent to concede.
Cubans on the streets of Havana react with sadness to the news of Fidel Castro's death.
Ghana's main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo addresses jubilant crowds in Accra saying he is "quietly confident"' he has won the elections and calls on supporters to remain calm and await the official results.
Search and rescue operations in Indonesia enter day three after more than 100 people were killed in the powerful earthquake that strick Aceh province on Wednesday.
The actress is being sued in an unusual lawsuit as part of a three-year battle by her ex-fiance to see the embryos brought to life.
Director Damien Chazelle on the six year struggle to get 'La La Land' made. He literally made himself sick from stress, Chazelle worked tirelessly. Then it took five, six years to get the movie made,
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his intention to resign early on Monday after suffering a heavy defeat in a constitutional reform referendum on Sunday.
Preparations are underway in Washington DC for the inauguration of Donald Trump as president. Paul Chapman reports.
Two people have died and two more were injured after a fire broke out at a migrant camp in the Greek island of Lesbos late on Thursday.
Migrants at a camp on the Greek island of Chios have been attacked with petrol bombs on two consecutive nights by suspected right-wing extremists. Authorities say the extremists are trying to drive the migrants off the island.
Unknown assailants hurled rocks and petrol bombs at a makeshift camp for refugees and migrants on the Aegean island of Chios, as tensions run high at overcrowded camps.
Some 150 migrants in Serbia, frustrated over border closings, march in protest towards the Croation border demanding passage to Western Europe.
A surge of American visitors since the restoration of diplomatic ties is testing the limits of Cuba's tourism industry.
Auschwitz survivor Eva Fahidi tells her life story through movement.
STORY: Against all odds, Elizabeth Marek is alive, she has a device that attacks brain cancer cells with electric fields to thank. Elizabeth has glioblastoma, a deadly and aggressive form of brain
The problem of illegal cars smuggled across Bolivia's four borders seemed intractable. But that could all change, thanks to this mandatory windscreen chip fitted to vehicles.
A group campaigining for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls held by Boko Haram militants celebrate news that 21 have been freed. Paul Chapman reports.
Jihadist group Boko Haram has freed 21 of more than 200 girls it kidnapped in April 2014 in the northern Nigerian town of Chibok, the government said on Thursday.
People displaced by Nigeria’s rebel group Boko Haram are finding new ways to make money, after fleeing their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs. Kate King takes a look at how those in displacement camps are getting back on their feet.
Relatives of some of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamic group Boko Haram say they're relieved to see their daughters in a new video released by the group.
Nigerian schoolgirl Amina Ali, who was rescued after over two years of captivity with Boko Haram militants, arrives for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, amid hopes she can shed light on the fate of 218 other abducted Chibok girls
Nigerian teenager Amina Ali is the first of the so-called 'Chobok girls' to be freed after she and over 200 classmates were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants more than two years ago.
A double suicide bombing killed at least 19 people and wounded over 140 in the northern Cameroon town of Kerawa, where the army is struggling to contain the overflow of violence from Boko Haram's Nigeria strongholds
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vows to defeat Boko Haram saying, "we have the will to win this fight."
Protesters in Nigeria meet with the president and demand more aggressive action to rescue schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamic militants Boko Haram.
 There were two attacks, both in the busy center of N'Djamena, Chad's capital. Authorities are blaming the Islamist group Boko Haram.
Nigeria's president is vowing to defeat the Islamist militants, Boko Haram. During a visit to NIger, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to do whatever it takes to eliminate the group accused.
New Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on parade just after taking the oath of office. His first target -- Boko Haram -- as he promises to eradicate the "mindless, godless" militants.
New Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vowed on Friday (May 29) to eradicate the "mindless, godless" militant group Boko Haram and rescue hundreds of women
Nigerian women rescued from Boko Haram speak of disarray within the ranks of the Islamist group.
Hundreds of women and children rescued from Boko Haram militants spend their first evening at a camp for internally displaced people, where they will receive food, shelter and medical treatment for injuries.
Women and children rescued from the Islamist militant group Boko Haram arrive at a camp for internally displaced persons in Yola, Nigeria
The Empire State Building is lit up in red and purple in honour of the 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram in Nigeria a year ago.
Young women and girls march in the Nigerian capital to mark one year since more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamist militants.
One year after 200 Nigerian schoolgirls went missing after being kidnapped by Islamist militants, demonstrators demand justice with silent protest in Nigeria's capital Abuja.
Nigeria's President-elect Buhari vows to target Boko Haram as analysts say he must tackle corruption in country where "number of private jets out numbers public aircraft."
Chadian and Niger soldiers take control of northern Nigerian town of Damasak after killing more than 200 Boko Haram militants.
Boko Haram is carrying out ethnic reprisals against Arabic speakers in northern Nigeria, forcing some 10,000 refugees to cross into Cameroon in recent weeks.
Nigeria's military says it has reclaimed some towns seized by Islamist Boko Haram militants in the north east.
Morale is high amongst Chadian troops fighting Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.
The purported leader of Boko Haram claims in a new video that his fighters were behind the attack on a Nigerian town that killed scores of civilians.
Scores of Nigerian refugees are crossing Lake Chad to find safety from Boko Haram violence but countries like Chad are struggling with the refugee influx.
President Goodluck Jonathan makes surprise visit to insurgency-plagued northeast Nigeria, a rebuff to critics who say he has ignored the plight of victims of Boko Haram
A Nigerian family from the town where Boko Haram abducted 200 schoolgirls, relocate after insurgents recapture Chibok.
Six months after the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls by Islamist militants, Nigerians protest near the president's home.
Twenty-seven hostages seized by militant group Boko Haram in Cameroon in May and July have been released
A man claiming to be Boko Haram's leader appears in a new video contradicting Nigerian military reports of his death.
The Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram claims to have formed an Islamic caliphate in the northeastern town of Gwoza, more than four months after gaining international attention by kidnapping 200 schoolgirls.
Malala Yousafzai visits Nigeria to campaign on behalf of the schoolgirls abducted by rebel group, Boko Haram.
Nigerians demand more efforts from the government to secure the safe release of 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, as U.S. congressman says there's "a great deal of hope" they'll be found.
Eight weeks after more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped in Nigeria, activists in Abuja vow to continue their protests until the girls are freed.
Deborah Peters, a 15-year-old Nigerian girl who survived a 2011 attack by Boko Haram, tells members of the U.S. Congress that the militants killed her father that night for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
West African leaders meeting in France vowed to wage "total war" on Boko Haram saying the Nigerian Islamist group had become a regional "al Qaeda."
The mother of a Nigerian schoolgirl held captive among hundreds of others by Boko Haram urges the government to release prisoners in exchange for girls' release.
Dozens of Nigerians gather in the capital to keep up the pressure for action over the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls
Most of the girls taken from Chibok on April 14, 2014, have not been seen again. Nearly five dozen managed to escape a few weeks afterward, but the rest have vanished. Most are presumed to have been sold into sex slavery, intentionally impregnated by Boko Haram fighters, or converted into suicide bombers for this nihilistic group, which has declared its allegiance to the Islamic State and spread its tentacles to threaten states across West Africa. Prayer vigil held for abducted Nigerian girls.
Dozens of protesters brave heavy rains in Nigeria's most populous city to mark one month since more than 200 girls in war-ravaged northeast Nigeria were kidnapped from their school.
Nigerians say the government should do everything it can to rescue more then 200 kidnapped school girls but should not 'negotiate with terrorists.
May 12 - The leader of the Nigerian Islamist rebel group, Boko Haram, offers to release more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by his fighters last month in exchange for prisoners, according to a video seen on YouTube.
The bodies of 28 victims of Wednesday's deadly Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash were transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Health Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Thursday, where relatives awaited to identify their loved ones. The plane, carrying up to 48 people on board, crashed into a mountain range near the town of Havelian, shortly after take-off from Chitral on Wednesday.
Protesters celebrated the news that the National Assembly voted to impeach South Korean President Park Guen-hye over a corruption allegations, in Seoul on Friday. The motion passed by 234 votes to 56, with nine invalid votes and abstentions, implying that a significant number of Park's ruling-Saenuri party voted for the impeachment.
Head of Aviation aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet, holder of the Order of Courage and Hero of Russia, Igor Matkovski spoke on his military career on Heroes of the Fatherland Day, on the deck of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, located in Mediterranean Sea, Friday. The carrier was the launch site of Sukhoi Su-33 jets that were carrying out missions in Syria.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched an offensive inside the Sheikh Sa'eed district in eastern Aleppo, Thursday.
According to media reports, the SAA has already made significant progress inside the western sector of Sheikh Sa'eed, allegedly killing and wounding several anti-government militants who refused to surrender.
Heavy shelling could be heard as the Syrian Arab Army continued its advance into the rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo on Thursday.

Footage from Aleppo shows parts of the city held by militants that the Syrian Army is getting close to regain control of. A concerted push by the Syrian Army has seen them regain nearly two thirds of rebel-held territory in a two week period.
Russian sappers continued bomb disposal operations, using bomb-sniffing dogs, in the liberated areas of eastern Aleppo on Thursday.

The squad of the International Mine Action Centre from the Russian Armed Forces arrived at the Hmeymim airbase in Latakia on Saturday. The group reportedly includes specialists that previously took part in mine clearance operations in the Syrian city of Palmyra.
Syrian Army (SAA) forces continued to liberate parts of Aleppo’s Old City which has been occupied by anti-government militants for four years, Wednesday.

SOT, resident (Arabic): "What have they done to us? They left us without a piece of bread for 15 days. Let Allah destroy their homes. Let them burn in hell. As they threatened us to burn our homes, if we tried to leave."
Hundreds of leftists took to the streets of Hamburg on Thursday, to protest the 23rd Council Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Hundreds of pro-Kurdish activists took to the streets of Hamburg, Thursday, to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the policy towards Turkey of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) countries.

Banner reading (German): "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism"

Banner reading (German): "We welcome everyone who fight against exploitation and oppression"
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault discussed the Syria conflict at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Hamburg on Thursday.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that the conflict in eastern Ukraine might have become a "conflagration" without the Minsk agreements, while speaking at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Hamburg, Thursday.
Protesters scuffled with police outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Friday, as scores rallied demanding that the legislature impeach South Korean President Park Guen-hye over corruption allegations. The protesters held signs reading "People's revolution" and chanted anti-Park slogans.
Hundreds of protesters rallied in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, to demand the resignation of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

An anonymous impeachment vote against President Park is due to take place in the National Assembly on Friday. The motion will require the approval of two-thirds of the 300-seat house. All opposition MPs must vote for impeachment, and be joined by at least 28 members from Park's Saenuri Party if the motion is to pass.
Scores of protesters rallied outside the ruling-Saenuri Party headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday, demanding that the party's members vote to impeach South Korean President Park Guen-hye over corruption allegations.
The protesters held candles, listened to speeches and chanted anti-Park slogans, as they continued their daily protesting in the South Korean capital.
US President-elect Donald Trump officially introduced Iowa Govenor Terry Branstad as his pick to be the US ambassador to China, at a rally in Des Moines, Thursday.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders joined Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Representative for Illinois's 9th congressional district Janice Schakowsky to demand that President-elect Donald Trump and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan deliver their promise to keep Medicare's earned benefits, at a press conference in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C., Wednesday.
US President-elect Donald Trump formally announced that General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis was his nomination for US Defence Secretary at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Tuesday.
Officials at Dane County were up bright and early to start polling votes in the state capital Madison, as the Wisconsin Elections Commission began a state-wide recount of presidential election votes on Thursday.

Launched by Green Party candidate Jill Stein the recount of the ballot papers must be completed by December 13. Stein is calling for a full recount in all states where Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton narrowly lost to President-elect Donald Trump. She believes it is possible that foreign hackers could have interfered with the presidential election results, after consulting with security experts.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived at Quirinal Palace in Rome, Monday, to discuss the terms of his resignation with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, a day after Italians voted 'No' in constitutional reform referendum.
Protesters faced off with police in front of the La Scala theatre, Milan, on Wednesday, just before the opening of its 2016-2017 opera season. Anti-austerity activists demonstrated against social housing and school policy on the traditional day of protest.
Leader of the Northern League Matteo Salvini headed a sit in the Piazza Montecitorio in Rome on Tuesday to demand early elections. Salvini's fellow supporters carried signs reading 'vote now' as they posed for photographs in front of the press.

Leading members of parliament from the Italian opposition party Five Star Movement gave their reactions to Sunday's referendum and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's decision to resign, speaking outside the prime minister's residence, Palazzo Chigi, in Rome, Monday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated he was confident on reaching a deal with the US over the withdrawal of militants from eastern Aleppo, during a press conference on the side-lines of the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Hamburg, Friday.
Leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) Geert Wilders was convicted of inciting discrimination and insulting a group in Amsterdam on Friday. Despite the conviction no penalty was imposed on the defendant.
Three judges rule that the behaviour of the PVV leader during a campaign rally in 2014 was insulting towards the country's Moroccan population. However he does not need to serve a prison sentence nor pay the 5,000 euro fine prosecution called for, as the judges believe the verdict is punishment enough for a democratically elected politician.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sought "to honour to those who deserved the highest awards of our country," as he led a ceremony to mark Heroes of the Fatherland Day, in Moscow on Friday.
SOT, Vladimir Putin, Russian President (Russian): "Today, Russia celebrates the Heroes of the Fatherland Day. To honour those who deserved the highest awards of our country - gold stars, medals of honour, the Order of St. George, and whose exploits are a symbol of selflessness, fortitude and devotion to the homeland."
The bodies of the Russian nurses, Nadezhda Durachenko and Galina Mikhailova, killed in a deadly mortar attack in Aleppo, were delivered to their hometown of Birobidzhan on Friday, where their coffins were met with military honours. The coffins were delivered to an airstrip by helicopter, where a military band and a ceremonial guard greeted the deceased.
"I designed a special backpack that helps us to be safer and keep our parents calmer," Juan David Hernandez, the inventor 11-year-old inventor of a bulletproof backpack explained in his school, in Matamoros on Thursday.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak arrived at the European Commission in Brussels, Friday, to take part in trilateral gas talks with Ukraine and the EU.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Igor Nasalyk is scheduled to take part in the discussions, which concern the transit of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine. Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s vice president for energy union, will broker the talks.
An estimated 250 refugees and migrants climbed over the barbed wire border fence in Ceuta, on Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday morning.
Many sustained injuries as they climbed over the giant fence separating Morocco from Spain and were receiving initial treatment by Red Cross workers on site. While many celebrated upon their arrival, the majority of the people, who crossed the border, have since been arrested according to Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido
Footage released on Friday showed residents from the Aleppo al-Ramusi district staying in tents as reconstruction of the area got underway. Some were resting inside the temporary accommodation while others started to clear rubble away in preparation for the rebuilding.
A prototype of a humanoid robot designed to man spaceships by itself, was showcased in Magnitogorsk on Thursday. Engineers have high hopes for the FEDOR (Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research), and have dubbed it a 'Robo-Garagin'.
Director of Lamia Airlines, Gustavo Vargas Gamboa, has been sent with preventative detention to the prison of Palmasola in Santa Cruz on the decision of a precautionary judge, Thursday.
UN Special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said in New York on Thursday that he planned to meet “some people around the team” of President-elect Donald Trump, thought he did not specify when.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she would use law and order to manage refugees living in Germany, at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday.
A peaceful protest turns violent in Athens, Greece on the anniversary of a teenager's killing by a policeman.
Former U.S. Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright talked about the U.S.-China relationship in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Monday in New York.
The two former top diplomats appeared at an event named “Leaders Speak: Secretaries of State,” hosted by the U.S. National Committee on U.S.-China Relations at One World Trade Center.
Avery Goldstein, a Political Science professor and director of Center for the Study of Contemporary China at University of Pennsylvania, talks to Xinhua in an interview about the future China-U.S. relationships, as well as President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
The UN Security Council on Monday failed to adopt a resolution on humanitarian situation in Syria's northern city of Aleppo as Russia and China vetoed it.
Chinese ambassador Liu Jieyi called on the Security Council to make continued efforts to "speak with one voice" to the outside world and to avoid the politicalization of the humanitarian issue in Syria.
The largest East Africa Chinese-built mall is set to open in Kenya in next February.
The two rivers mall in upmarket estate of Nairobi consists of medium density residential homes,office blocks,shopping centre as well as three star and five star hotels.
China's high-speed trains not only depend on cutting-edge technologies. Looking back, rail workers' efforts have been all the more extraordinary.
This is the world's first high-speed railway that operates in extreme cold. Check out how workers make trains run safely at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius in NE China for the past 4 years.
During WWII, over 23,000 Jews landed in Shanghai seeking refuge from Nazi persecution. The story is rarely told, but now it comes to life as an epic new musical, Shimmer. This Tuesday, it is showcased at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square, New York.
The first high-speed train to pass through the region best known for the Three Gorges reservoir started operation Monday. Currently, 21 pairs of trains will undertake the journey every day.
Two bullet trains that can convert the sleeping berths to seats have rolled off the production line in northeast China's Jilin Province. With a maximum speed of 250 km per hour, the trains are designed to be able to run in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Vox pop: Fidel Castro in the eyes of Chinese people.
State funeral for Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Castro's death late last month has sparked an outpouring of grief across the Caribbean country. His courage and wisdom are believed to have inspired a new generation of political leaders in Latin America.
A scenic place to test your mettle! 300m-long glass-bottomed bridge opens across a lake in east China's Jiangsu Province. Its transparent glass deck could go lower with people waking on it.
Two robot waiters, who have just debuted in a restaurant, have already shot to fame in east China's Shanghai. The robots, both named 'Casper', are 'employed' by Pizza Hut's latest Shanghai outlet, which is located on the basement floor of the Shanghai Tower, the world's second tallest building. The two-and-a-half foot tall, bow-tied robot is considered by many as the cutest robot they've ever seen. Click this video to get a look.
Three Chinese ships make a port call in San Diego, southern California. The Chinese crew members will take part in sporting events and cultural exchanges with U.S. sailors to build trust and foster cooperative relationships.
Want something special to brighten your day? You can try fresh flowers. This video offers you clues about how to arrange them into gorgeous patterns.
Chinese artists have put flowers onto hats. And historic figures and their stories as well as ancient relics have become themes for their flower arrangements. Curious? Click this video to get a look.
Various kind of creative products are displayed during the Chengdu Creativity and Design Week.
Giant pandas tumbling and rolling in snow in NE China. The two bears, You You and Si Jia, moved from the warm Sichuan province in July and are embracing their first winter in Yabuli, Heilongjiang.
What do you think of America?

First thought when you think of America?

What do you think of President Obama?

What makes you feel uncomfortable about America?

Any expectations for Xi Jinping's state visit?

What you'd like to say to Xi & Obama?
An arbitration unilaterally initiated, a tribunal with no jurisdiction, and a ruling that's naturally null and void. Check out this video to find out how the South China Sea tribunal fooled the world ?
China is transforming its development model from one driven by export and investment to one driven by consumption. Do you think it means anything to you in some someway?
Peacemaker or peace breaker? What role is the U.S. playing in the South China Sea?
Panda postcard stamp, panda souvenirs, Even the postbox is a giant panda. Join Xinhua for a tour around the world's first panda-themed post office
Streamed live on Nov 22, 2016

#Live: Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses Peruvian Congress.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru
Blowing the horns with his nose, like blowing dust off a table. Chinese Qigong master creates mind-blowing music with ease.
Smoking with ear! Chinese artist shows stunning skills by blowing smoke out of his mouth while inhaling smoke from the ear.

Eating fire and spitting fire, Chinese #Qigong master displays stunning skills.
Breathtaking feats of strength, agility and balance: Chinese all-men troupe stages stunning "Dragon" acrobatics at the international circus festival in S China's Zhuhai. It's one art that requires the best team work, and performers often need to spend one entire year practicing one stunt.
Spear to the throat: 25-year-old Chinese man bends a spear with the spearhead on the throat. The young Kung Fu master can also break bricks into pieces with bare hands.
Shrinking the body to squeeze into a small loop: Ethnic Miao artist displays stunning Kung Fu in SW China's Guizhou.
Hanging upside down from horizontal bars, and scooping up water from underneath to fill in a bucket: Stunning Shaolin Kung Fu performed by students at a martial arts school in Mt. Song, central China's Henan Province.
Amazing Shaolin Kung Fu show in Mt. Song, central China's Henan Province. Mt. Song is widely seen as a birthplace of Chinese martial arts.
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong have sent their last journal from space before returning to Earth. They and fellow astronaut Wang Yaping, who went to space in 2013, have described a typical day in space. Find out in this video.
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong are currently on a 33-day space journey and acting as Xinhua special correspondents. On Tuesday, they talked with their copy desk on earth for the first time.
How's it different to grow plants in space than on the ground? Xinhua's special correspondents unveil the secrets of planting in their 24th day journal in space.
The Chinese try running in space for the first time! Chinese astronaut Chen Dong, who's also Xinhua's special journalist in space, also sends his greetings and wishes for reporters covering the Shenzhou-11 mission on Journalists' Day.
China's strategic missile force displays seven types of missiles, including nuclear-capable missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles. We invite you to a new, immersive experience with a front seat for China's V-Day parade.
Choose an angle you like and drag the mouse ! 360 degree angle available when you open the page by google chrome.
Shi Liliang, a monk who made headlines last year running 118 meters across the surface of a water reservoir, established a new personal best of 125 meters on Aug. 29.
A monk from a Shaolin Temple in southeast China' s Fujian Province recently ran across the surface of a water reservoir for a total distance of 118 meters on Sunday. Footage of his amazing performance went viral shortly thereafter.
Published on Nov 24, 2016

CCTV English on YouTube:

Lesotho is set to open new diamond mines as it seeks to be a major diamond producer in the next few years. The Mining Ministry has already advertised 20 diamond mining prospecting licenses. Currently, there are two fully operational mines that contribute 10% of the country's GDP. CCTV's Yolisa Njamela reports
Three women in South Africa are challenging a long held male domination of media production in the country. The founders of Owondo media say that women have taken too long to make their presence felt in the industry yet they have what it takes to thrive. They are leading the way, and as they told CCTV's Julie Scheier, they also want to lift other women.
"There's never been a more humbling moment in my life and I thank you, the good people of Ghana, for this massive show of support and the confidence you have reposed in me and my party. I make this solemn pledge to you tonight" ~ Nana Akufo-Addo
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has rejected the outcome of last week's election. During a television address to the nation Jammeh called for fresh elections. Jammeh, who had last week conceded defeat to opposition candidate Adama Burrow, cited electoral abnormalities unearthed by the electoral commission, for his change of heart.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has unveiled a $4.1 B budget for 2017. It's set to be financed through revenue collections of 3.7 B and domestic borrowings of 400 M. The country's coffers will remain under pressure from employment costs which are set to eat up $3 B. Recurrent expenses will be 400 M and capital expenditure has been pegged at 500 M. The education sector has received the biggest allocation at 803 M. Measures to stimulate economic activity include incentives for corporates that invest in production value chains, a fund for local value-addition and tax breaks for investors in special economic zones.
It's been almost two years since the European Central Bank launched its quantitative easing programme in an attempt to increase inflation and boost the Eurozone economy. Has the programme been effective and will the ECB extend it? Mariam Zaidi takes a look.
Last week during an International Investment Conference in Tunis, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls committed 2 billion euros in aid and development projects to Tunisia. It was a defining moment in relations between the two countries. But as Youssef Gaigi reports, that could all change soon.
The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday, following its policy meeting. Rates on its main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility, as well as deposit facility, will remain unchanged at 0%, 0.25% and minus 0.4%. The Governing Council also decided to continue its asset purchase programme at the current monthly pace of 80 billion euros until the end of March. From April 2017, net asset purchases are intended to continue at a monthly pace of 60 billion euros until the end of the year. But to ensure the continued smooth implementation of the Eurosystem's asset purchases, the Governing Council has decided to change some of the parameters of the purchase programme.
Forty years ago, Chinese and Africans co-existed and worked together like brothers and sisters, as witnessed in the Tazara construction. Forty years later, things aren't the same. The once tight connection is faced with numerous strains. Frank Fang and Dr. Gao Kenan both Chinese and residents in Zambia share their life experiences in Africa.
Though he died almost four decades ago, Haile Selassie's legacy remains strong and valid.
"Faces of Africa" sought to unearth the events and memories of the man who dared to confront The League of Nations, now UN, pleading for their support in conquering the Italians who were preparing to attack Ethiopia
In Senegal, female wrestlers in Casamance region reign in wrestling tournaments same as the male wrestlers. This traditional sport has been passed on from generation to generation.
Isabel Sambou and Evelyn Diatta both female wrestling champions in Senegal have for years brought pride to their country through the sport.
In Senegal, female wrestlers in Casamance region reign in wrestling tournaments same as the male wrestlers. This traditional sport has been passed on from generation to generation.
Isabel Sambou and Evelyn Diatta both female wrestling champions in Senegal have for years brought pride to their country through the sport.
Ska Moteane is an award winning chef, cookbook author and entrepreneur in the Southern Africa mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
Ska specializes in traditional local cuisine which promotes healthy eating by using local produce.
There is a village in Burkina Faso where man and beast live side by side in perfect harmony. Prosper Kabore is no ordinary man, he is the keeper of the sacred crocodiles of Bazoule, and it is up to him to make sure the legend continues.
Bena Nakijjoba popularly known as Jaja has raised many orphans and abandoned children in Katanga, Uganda.
She has rescued abandoned children for more than 40 years.
Two sides to the man who hit the international charts in the 20th Century. Idi Amin has been called the Butcher of Uganda. His rule as the 3rd president of Uganda was characterised by the persecution of minority groups, torture and exalted self imposed title such as " Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular". However the 6'4 ft. Amin was also a charming populist leader, a musician, a proficient swimmer and a caring father who at various stages won over his people and the West alike.
He never left his camera wherever he went.
Having dropped out of school to do what he loved, photography, puzzled his parents. Mohamed Amin popularly known as the 'Man who moved the world', captured the most distressing images of the 1984 Ethiopian famine. The world responded in a great way and helped over 2 million Ethiopians who were starving.
16 year old ​​Kelvin Doe aka DJ Focus, is an engineer from Freetown, Sierra Leone. He is known for teaching himself engineering at the age of 13 and building his own radio station where he plays music and broadcasts news under the name "DJ Focus". Kelvin uses discarded pieces of scrap to build transmitters, generators, and batteries.
As a result of his accomplishment, he received an invitation to the US and he became the youngest person ever to participate in the “Visiting Practitioner's Program” at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
With a culture of handouts spread across some countries in Africa, Chief Strawberry from Zambia stands to challenge the people he compares to 'hyena or scavengers' and dares them to be like a lion that hunts for its own prey.
Lehlomela Tente a Ghanaian choir master of the Serumula classical choir in Maseru, Lesotho. Besides training young upcoming professionals in the community, Lehlomela is keen to spread the music to the students in schools.
In this series, CCTV Africa will attempt to take you to the top of this beautiful and dangerous mountain. And look at what makes it draw so many people around the world each year. Kilimanjaro is many things to many people. It's a fragile eco-system and also a place of work for the thousands of people who live on its slopes.
It's a journey of stamina, fraught with hazards, with extreme conditions at every turn.
For decades, the highest free-standing mountain on the continent has drawn tens of thousands of climbers, all pushing themselves to get to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The mountain, however, is changing, as its snowcapped peak shrinks, each year. To get an intimate understanding of the mountain, beyond the photos, the myths and the legends, CCTV's Ramah Nyang, took on the mountain's formidable challenge.
After some mishaps even before the climb started, the team has now run into yet another challenge - virtually non-stop rain. The team is still in the midst of the thick, lush rainforests at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and they've barely tackled their 50 kilometer hike, to the summit. CCTV's Ramah Nyang, takes up the story
For decades, Mount Kilimanjaro has been a key part of Tanzania's vast tourist attractions. As CCTV's Ramah Nyang reports however, to Tanzanians themselves, the mountain is so much more than just a pretty lump of rock.
The Rugby Sevens World Series continues this weekend, with hosts South Africa looking to sustain their winning momentum after the first round in Dubai. Sias du Plessis has more.
The African basketball champions cup will kick off on Tuesday in Egypt, with host club Al Ahly planning a home-ground dominance. The nine-day men's competition will bring together teams from across Africa. Al Ahly's coach says his team is looking to break a 20-year winless streak for Egyptian clubs in the tournament. Angolan Clubs have been dominating the African Basketball Cup since 2002.
In Egypt's coastal city Alexandria, lies a very humble weightlifting center. Equipped with used items and standing on a dusty ground, the center has produced world class women champions. Here is Adel EL Mahrouky with more.
South African Motorsport has been waiting a long time for a world champion. And finally, after 36 years, Brad Binder has etched his name in the history books, to join an illustrious list of riders, who have managed to be crowned Motor champion. the 21-year-old touched down in Johannesburg, after a season he describes as insane. CCTV's Sias du Plessis has more.
After establishing trading posts along the coast of Senegal in 1624, by 1961 14 African countries were under French rule. But more than 50 years after granting its former colonial empire independence, Paris still has a large presence across the continent. French economic influence is still felt by many African treasuries, and French military troops have been involved in conflicts through out the continent. And this despite statements by both president Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicholas Sarkozy, declaring the era of francafriqie officially over, And as the 16th Francophone summit kicked off in Madagascar, we asked what is the state of affairs between France and its former colonies? And what lies ahead for Africa's French connection?
Beatrice Marshall and her panel of experts explore this topic, on Talk Africa!
After African heads of state failed to elect a new head of the African Union Commission in July, the race finally seems to be heating up. South Africa’s Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will step down in January 2017, after just over 4 years at the helm of the African Union, but her successor will certainly have their work cut out for them.
The AU has come under criticism due to perceived slow-responses to various crises on the continent, and the ongoing reform process under Rwanda’s Paul Kagame is expected to shift both the organisational set-up and political nature of the continental bloc – something the new chair will have to oversee.
So who then is likely to succeed Dlamini-Zuma in Addis Ababa?And what challenges lie ahead for the new African Union Commission Chair?
Climate Justice for Africa! -That was the priority of COP22. But as the UN Convention on Climate Change wrapped up in Marrakech- Morocco this week, was there enough done to successfully address the concerns of the host continent?
Agricultural yield in Africa is expected to halve in the coming years, and some assessments project that up to 250 million people could be exposed to water shortages by 2020. And with the ongoing global warming, the issue of adaptation remains Africa’s number-one priority.
So are other global parties coming to the table? And what else can be done to mitigate the effects of climate change on the African continent?
Beatrice Marshall & her expert panel delve into this issue, on Talk Africa!
As deserts across the world expand, around 1.2 billion people are at risk from desertification - and according to the United Nations, Africa is worst affected. It's estimated that deserts in parts of the continent are expanding at a rate of 5 km per year, and with 65% of arable land already damaged,Africa is facing a crisis that will affect both its food supply and its population.
And so, as global leaders gather in Marrakech at Cop22 to discuss ways to combat changing global weather, what steps will be taken to combat land degradation on the continent? And what can be done to mitigate the effects of Africa's growing deserts?
CCTV will give extensive coverage of the Rio Olympic games! Stay tuned on DSTv channel 409, Zuku 567 & Star Times 123 for the detailed coverage of the games and Brazil!
Zambian president Edgar Lungu has concluded his two-day state visit to South Africa. President Lungu ended his stay with a visit to Eskom's Kusile power station construction site where he noted that the two countries have lost time in liaising with each other to make the most of South Africa's power surplus. He encouraged better integration for the southern African region. The South African power utility's board and management provided insights into what the power station will mean to the region when it comes to power provision.
Zimbabwe's GDP will expand by 1.7 percent in 2017 as the country looks to higher mineral revenue and a recovery of the agricultural sector. Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa delivered a 4.1 billion dollar budget on Thursday, proposing a raft of measures to boost economic recovery. Farai Mwakutuya reports.
The Nigerian Government has proposed a budget that's nearly 24 billion dollars for 2017. This will be a 20 percent increase in expenditure from the 2016 estimates. Businesses in the country have been weighed down by the recession. And as CCTV's Kelechi Emekalam reports, the government and business owners are hoping that 2017 budget may provide a way out.
His first Olympic gold, an international road running award and a new personal best - Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge has had a good 2016. The 32-year-old however admits that all this success makes him a target for his rivals next year.
Nigeria and other West African nations like Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire may be recipients of so-called dirty fuels going by a recent report by a Swiss watchdog. The fuels are high in sulphur and are known to cause respiratory diseases as well as damage vehicle engines. The report accuses European oil traders of exporting this high-pollutant fuel to Africa, where it's sold to unsuspecting customers. CCTV's Deji Badmus reports.
A new wave of Nigerian cinema has made its way to New York and is being showcased at the city's African Diaspora Film Festival. It comes just a few months after Nollywood was in the spotlight at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. CCTV's Mimi Chiahemen has more from New York.
In Egypt, an artist is giving ostrich eggs a new lease of life. Businesswoman Maha Shalaby decorates the shells using an ancient art form that dates back to the pharaohs. Her work is proving to be a hit among some of Egypt's wealthy citizens. And, as Thuli Tshabalala reports, Maha's art is also generating renewed interest in the world's largest bird.
Tanzanians are celebrating Independence Day, marked by military parades and performances in the commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam. Last year, President John Magufuli controversially cancelled celebrations to save money, but this year he had a change of heart. Dan Ashby reports.
A Stalemate over non payment of arrears owed to players of the Nigerian women's national team is taking a new twist. The minister of sports Solomon Dalung now says, his ministry did not expect the falcons to emerge victorious at the African Women's cup of nations in Cameroon and as such, his ministry did not budget for bonuses for the team. CCTV'S Kelechi Emekalam with more.
Uganda says it's registered significant progress in fighting malaria. Our correspondent Leon Ssenyange visited a health centre in northern Uganda, where measures like mosquito nets and indoor spraying are helping to reduce the number of cases
Zambian President Edgar Lungu's is on a three day state visit to South Africa. Part of the visit included a business forum, where he and President Jacob Zuma addressed more than 150 business leaders from both countries. Angelo Coppola was there and brings us this report.
Nigeria's military has pledged to take action against any of its soldiers found guilty of raping internally displaced persons in the north-east. The military has decided to investigate the allegations following a Human Rights Watch report. The humanitarian body claims several internally displaced Nigerians have reported sexual abuse at the hands of the soldiers deployed to protect them from the Boko Haram insurgency. CCTV's Kelechi Emekalam has more.
Health workers in Kenya are threatening to shut down all private and mission hospitals next week -- in solidarity with a strike by doctors in the public service. Thousands of doctors are demanding better pay and working conditions, as part of an agreement signed with the government three years ago. CCTV's Robert Nagila has the latest.
In Ghana, voters are still waiting to see who has won Wednesday's presidential election. The country's main opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, has declared he has beaten incumbent President John Mahama in the presidential elections - a claim promptly rejected by the ruling party. The move has been condemned by international observer groups' leaders, including former South African president Thabo Mbeki. The official presidential results are yet to be announced as delays in vote counting were experienced country-wide. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has appealed to Ghanaians to exercise patience as the Commission continues to collate results.
Egypt’s central bank has ruled out plans to intervene further to stabilize its pound, which was floated in November. The governor, who has termed last month's decision as historic, says the bank will allow market forces to stabilize the currency. Egypt abandoned its peg of 8.8 pounds to the U.S. dollar, in a bold move that has since seen it roughly halve in value. Ditching its currency peg, however, helped Egypt secure a $12 billion three-year loan from the International Monetary Fund. The steep depreciation in the pound has reduced imports and dramatically increased prices. Egypt has struggled to revive its economy since the 2011 unrest scared off investors and tourists -- key sources of foreign currency.
The Egyptian government has reversed its decision to exempt frozen imported poultry from taxes and custom duties. Local farmers had argued that the move would hurt the local industry. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail initially implemented the exemption from the 10th of November this year to the 31st of May 2017. Here is Adel EL Mahrouky with more.
The African Union Commission is currently holding a debate for the candidates seeking to head the continental body. It is taking place at the AU's headquarters in Addis Ababa. Elections to pick a successor to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will take place next month. Five candidates are running. They include Kenya's Foreign Affairs Secretary, Amina Mohamed, Equatorial Guinea's Agapito Mba Mokuy, Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat, Senegal's Abdoulaye Bathily and Botswana's Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.The AU says the debate will give the candidates an opportunity to speak to African citizens, popularise the AU and give their vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
An emerging Egyptian terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed six security officers near the Pyramids of Giza on Friday. The Hasm movement said it launched explosion targeting a checkpoint on a main road in Cairo. Three civilians were wounded in the blast. The blast comes after three gunmen were killed by security during a raid in southern Egypt on Tuesday. Security forces described the gunmen as an armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood - Egypt's oldest Islamist movement - which claimed responsibility in September for an assassination attempt on a senior prosecutor. The blast is the latest in a series of security incidents often claimed by militants.
Leaders from the Economic Community of Central African States are meeting in Gabon to discuss critical issues affecting their countries. Top of the agenda is security in the region, as well as the establishment of a free-trade area. Delegates are also deliberating maritime and aviation development. Rwanda is the newest member of the 11-nation regional bloc, after joining in 2015.
Cairo's traffic snarl-ups are known to last hours. Not only that, but the daring feats and manoeuvres conducted by thousands of drivers trying to get to work each day often result in accidents.
In rugby news, Uganda head into the second World Sevens Series tournament of the season hoping to learn invaluable lessons. Uganda are on a quest to become a core team on the circuit. They're in Pool D along with Wales, Scotland and Samoa, so the African Rugby Sevens champions know they're in for a tough weekend. But players say they're eager to be part of the action. Team manager Michael Wandera believes that the Cranes are a good match for any of the teams in Cape Town this weekend.
In Cameroon, police have shot dead four anti-government demonstrators in one of the Central African nation's minority anglophone regions. It's part of ongoing protests against alleged discrimination against minority English-speaking residents. Officers initially tried to break up the demonstration using tear gas. A Reuters reporter then claims police opened fire on the crowd, which had grown in size. Protests first broke out in early November in Bamenda when lawyers and teachers demanded better working conditions. It's a rare act of defiance against President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982. The government has initiated several attempts to hold a dialogue with the protesters, who are demanding a separation from Francophone Cameroon.
Anew trend is taking schools by storm in Australia throwing a half-full bottle into the air and making it land upright. While bottle flipping can be disruptive, some schools have turned the game into an educational activity
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has been honoured with an African Leadership Award. Organisers say it's in recognition of his contributions to maintaining peace on the continent. Museveni's role in regional peace-building includes mediating talks between the DRC government and M23 rebels, as well as deploying troops to South Sudan and Somalia. The African Leadership Awards are held annually to recognise business and political achievers. Candidates are nominated and voted for by members of the public via the African Leadership Awards website. Previous recipients include Liberian Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee and Martha Namundjebo, the president of Namibia's chamber of commerce. Uganda has welcomed the award.
Following two years of unpredictable rainfall in Zimbabwe, prison farms in the country are having a tough time providing the inmates with proper meals. However, with the help of aid agencies, correctional services officials are adapting and changing how they farm.
The United Nations has launched a record 2.7-billion dollar aid appeal for Africa's Sahel region, following years of insurgency by Boko Haram. About 1-billion will go towards north-eastern Nigeria. However, the Nigerian government says the UN has exaggerated the extent of the problem. CCTV's Nick Harper reports from New York
The UN Security Council has reaffirmed its support for its envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, and for the implementation of the Libyan political agreement. The show of support comes after Kobler warned the council this week that the political agreement has stalled.
Somalia authorities have agreed on a new date for those much-anticipated presidential elections. The vote will now take place on the 28th of December. CCTV's Abdulaziz Billow has this report from Mogadishu.
Mali is hosting a festival of a different kind. Almost an eighth of Mali's population live with disabilities. Many are cast out by their families, and have to cope with the stigma that accompanies their handicaps. But a new festival hopes to raise awareness and compassion for people living with disabilities.
Africa's biggest cement producer, Dangote Cement, is in talks with the Tanzanian government about using the country's natural gas to power its production plant. The government is said to be resisting a plea to buy the gas at less than market price. Last week Dangote suspended its operations in Tanzania, blaming technical issues. Lucy Taylor has more.
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and 5,000 metre gold medallist Vivian Cheruiyot have been named Kenya's best athletes for 2016. The pair was among a dozen athletes recognized at the country's annual athletics awards ceremony.
Volunteers are starting the first sea rescue service in Tanzania, planning to save as many lives as possible. Twenty-five volunteers are helping out, giving up their time free of charge. They've already been called out to their first emergency. Daniel Kijo reports.
A prolonged drought and other economic challenges have made 2016 one of the toughest years on record for South Africa. Maize production was cut in half sending prices up the roof. A chicken deal with the US introduced an extra quota of imports, forcing local producers to cut their prices. But they have survived. Sumitra Nydoo spoke to one of the largest chicken producers in South Africa, Chris Schutte, the CEO of Astral Foods.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told a local newspaper that the military's victory in Aleppo is a huge step towards ending the five-year civil war. Our correspondent Alaa Ebrahim has the details from Aleppo.
At a peace and security forum in Senegal this week, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari assured the international community that the end of Boko Haram is in sight. He's also hailed the increased cooperation between Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against terrorism. Buhari says that the formation of the multinational joint task force comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Benin troops had greatly enhanced the fight against Boko Haram. However, Buhari has appealed for more international assistance in addressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and unemployment in Nigeria.
South Africa's economy will pick up next year as commodity prices rise and a historic drought eases. That's according to a Reuters poll. However, the agency says the economy is still short of the necessary investor confidence to grow faster. The poll predicts that South Africa will expand 1.1 % next year -- up from 0.4 % this year. The country grew by a mere 0.2 % in the third quarter of 2016. The Johannesburg all-share index has climbed over 90 % since the 2008/09 recession, but companies have been reluctant to invest in the economy even when their balance sheets are healthy.
President Bongo's state visit to China is set to end on Friday. Our reporter Wang Hui sat down with him to talk about Gabon's economic transformation and potential opportunities for investors. The president has also shared his thoughts on the future of China-Gabon relations.
Puntland forces have dislodged pro-ISIL militants from Qandala, a port town in Somalia's Puntland region. CCTV's Abdulaziz Billow has this update.
Parliament has introduced a bill to impeach President Park Geun-hye. It sets in motion a vote to oust the leader, who's engulfed in an influence-peddling scandal. MPs are expected to vote on Friday. Opposition parties have already said they're confident of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bill. However, the motion must be upheld by the Constitutional Court, a process which could take months. Park said this week she would await the court's ruling before stepping down in April, signaling that the country's six-week political crisis is set to continue. Park is under pressure to resign, as thousands of people demonstrate every weekend calling for her to leave office.
Ghana’s Electoral Commission has urged political parties to wait for the official results from Wednesday's presidential polls. Overnight, the opposition New Patriotic Party claimed its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, had won. However, the Electoral Commission has condemned the announcement, saying only it is mandated to confirm the winner of this closely fought vote. From Accra, Katerina Vittozzi has more.
Cote d'Ivoire's cocoa industry body plans to double the deposit needed to buy beans for delivery next season. According to a Bloomberg report, this is part of measures it's taking to curb speculation on the chocolate ingredient. The industry body is expected to raise the deposit to 5% of the fixed export price. It will also increase the amount of beans auctioned to international companies to at least 400,000 metric tons. That's up from about 220,000 currently. Cocoa prices dropped 28% this year -- the lowest in more than three years, as funds pulled out of the market in expectation of increased output in West Africa. The region accounts for about 70% of global production.
In north-eastern Nigeria, 800 Boko Haram hostages have been freed in a military operation in Borno. A commander says the captives were rescued as part of the army's ongoing anti-terrorism efforts. The troops also managed to arrest a number of militants fleeing their hideout in the Sambisa Forest. North-eastern Nigeria has long been a Boko Haram stronghold, but in recent months, the Nigerian government has launched several military operations to drive out the group.
Three African football officials have been sanctioned by FIFA for violations related to friendly matches played in South Africa 2010. In a statement, FIFA says it's banned former South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani from all football-related activities for five years. The ban is also extended to former Zimbabwe Football Association official Jonathan Musavengana and former Togo national coach Banna Tchanile.
African ministers of foreign affairs are meeting in Addis Ababa ahead of the AU summit in January 2017. They're discussing progress on the implementation of Africa's 50-year plan, various AU flagship projects and peace and security on the continent.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has met Gabonese President Ali Bongo in Beijing. Premier Li has described Gabon as an important partner for China. He also says Wednesday's meeting between President Bongo and President Xi Jinping was very productive. The two countries are set to intensify cooperation in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and aviation. Bongo says his country is keen to explore new development opportunities with China.
In England, the Supreme Court is hearing final arguments on a government appeal over its Brexit plans. The case concerns whether or not the government needs Parliament's authority to trigger the process for the UK to leave the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May plans to implement Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty by the end of March 2017 -- the first formal step towards leaving the bloc. However, the government claims it has the power to quit the EU without Parliament's consent. After the hearing concludes, the 11 Supreme Court justices will deliver their verdict in January.
Jubilant scenes and tales of survival in the Libyan city of Sirte. Libyan forces said Tuesday they had finished clearing the former Islamic State stronghold. CCTV's Clementine Logan has more
Lesotho wants to diversify its economy through fruit farming, breaking away from its reliance on the textile sector. The country plans to use over 10 hectares for pilot farms growing peaches, apples, plums and apricots. As Yolisa Njamela reports, six of those farms are already up and running.
The Chinese company that will operate business on the standard gauge railway has committed to employ up to 3,000 Kenyans when it starts commercial operations in January 2018. Kenya's transport principal secretary, Irungu Nyakera says the operator will start hiring between 2,000 and 3,000 Kenyans after February when the government expects to ink an operation deal with the firm. The firm will employ drivers, technicians and station operators, offering employment to those laid off by Kenya Railways when it transferred rail operation to Rift Valley Railways or RVR. RVR, which operates the Kenya-Uganda railway, is expected to face competition from the new railway being built with Chinese financing from Mombasa to the Ugandan border.
Ghana's Electoral Commission has called for political parties to wait for the official release of results in Wednesday's presidential election. Overnight, the opposition New Patriotic Party claimed their candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo had won. That was according to the count from their party agents. However, the Electoral Commission condemned the move, saying it's only they who can confirm the winner of this tightly fought campaign.
Apart from a few delays the African Union election observer team says it is satisfied with the handling of the Ghana elections, praising the public for conducting themselves peacefully during the vote.
In Burundi, the facilitator for the country's peace talks has arrived in the capital Bujumbura. Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa is in Burundi to look at ways of settling the east African country's 2015 crisis. Mkapa is expected to hold consultations with President Pierre Nkurunziza, members of the country's opposition and ruling party as well as civil society and religious groups. The inter-Burundian dialogue at the external level has made no concrete progress since its launch in December 2015. In January this year, the Burundian government boycotted talks in Arusha, Tanzania, arguing that it could not sit on the same table with what it called 'non-peaceful' stakeholders.
China's special envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan has held talks with the country's foreign minister Walid Muallem. The discussion focused on humanitarian efforts, especially in Aleppo. Before arriving in Syria, Xie visited Lebanon, which is home to more than a million Syrian refugees. His visit there coincided with the China-Russia veto of a UN Security Council resolution which called for a week-long ceasefire in Aleppo. Xie explained that China did so because it doesn't want to politicize the Syria issue.
Two Chinese companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Electric Utility company to build a better connected and intelligent electricity grid.The new smart grid system, the first of its kind in Ethiopia, is expected to help in increasing revenue collection and improving power supply to end users. The Chinese companies made donations to the smart power distribution pilot project, that will guide roll out of the entire project. Chief executive of the Ethiopian Electric Utility welcomed the gestures adding that they would contribute towards realization of Ethiopia's 5 year second growth and transformation plan.
Tax collection in Burundi rose 23 percent in November compared with the same period last year. The country's semi-autonomous tax authority, OBR says it collected 55.5 billion francs, just about 33 million dollars, well above its target of 50 billion francs. The authority collected 45.3 billion francs, just about 27 million dollars over the same period last year. No explanation was given for the improved receipts, but the authority said two months ago that business activity had rebounded across the country. Security has improved in the capital Bujumbura after several months of political violence provoked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in April last year. The International Monetary Fund projects the economy will shrink 0.5 percent this year and grow by 2 percent in 2017.
Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is set to present his 2017 budget this Thursday. As the country juggles dwindling revenues and ballooning government expenditure, he'll have to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Farai Mwakutuya reports
Despite progress made on the peace process in Central African Republic, violence continues to hamper the political transition. The U.N.'s top official for the region warned the Security Council that the threat from armed groups cannot be underestimated. Our UN correspondent Liling Tan has this report
The International Court of Justice has failed to stop France from putting on trial the vice President of Equatorial Guinea.The top United Nations court says it lacks jurisdiction against the case.Teodorin Obiang Nguema is facing corruption charges. France is accusing him of plundering his country's money to fund his lavish lifestyle in Paris. French authorities swooped on the Obiang family's six-storey mansion in the country and seized it along with a fleet of luxury cars, wines and paintings. Judges at ICJ did however approve Equatorial Guinea's request to have the building it says is part of its diplomatic mission in Paris be given diplomatic immunity. This would mean the building cannot be searched again by French authorities
A young Egyptian has been getting a lot of attention recently -- for his beard. Mohamed Hagras is a beekeeper, and he's using his familiarity with the yellow-and-black insects to allow dozens of them to settle on his face in the shape of a beard. Hagras says he wants to raise awareness of some of the challenges the tiny flying creatures face.
Giraffes have been re-graded to 'vulnerable status' on a list that monitors the extinction of the planet's species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature made the change after activists estimated that numbers have fallen by up to 40% in the last 30 years. Dan Ashby reports from Tanzania, which chose the creature as its national animal.
President Ali Bongo Ondima is part of a political family that's ruled Gabon for almost 50 years. He won a second term earlier this year -- by a wafer-thin margin. So what else do you need to know about him? CCTV's Robert Nagila has the rundown
New Yorkers are being treated to the sounds of South Africa this festive season, thanks to a former cast member of the hit musical 'The Lion King'. Thuli Dumakude, who played Rafiki, is now starring in a new show called 'Sing!', combining holiday tunes from her homeland of South Africa with traditional U.S. Christmas music.
Mozambique plans to spend of a third more than its budgeted revenue in 2017. Finance minister Adriano Maleiane says the country will cover the shortfall with domestic and foreign loans according to state news agency AIM. The country has been snubbed by the International Monetary Fund and other donors after it emerged that the country had not disclosed borrowing of more than 2 billion dollars that were not approved by parliament. This year, the country budgeted for a deficit of 11 percent of GDP, high by international standards, at a time when it had the financial support of the International Monetary Fund.
A post on social media criticizing the Egyptian President put on ice the budding career of Egyptian footballer Ahmed Marghany. The former Zamalek star still smarting from a long spell of exclusion now plans to make up for the lost time in a fourth tier Egyptian club.
Survival is no easy feat for homeless people in South Africa, even on warm summer nights. Street Sleeper, a Cape Town-based initiative, is trying to change this with innovative sleeping bags which double up as backpacks. They're made out of old advertising billboards which can't be recycled and are often dumped in landfill sites. Street Sleepers employs and trains people who wouldn't necessarily be considered eligible employees. Here is that story with CCTV's Julie Scheier.
Talks to end a crippling strike by doctors and nurses in East Africa's biggest economy are still deadlocked. Kenya had just under 9,700 doctors by the end of 2015. The latest dispute has been triggered by the non-implementation of a deal on wages, and working conditions agreed with the government in 2011. In early October, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that Kenya's Health Ministry had deliberately not implemented the agreement. Health department officials had tried to claim the deal had been signed by a party that wasn't authorised to do so. At the time, however, that person was the ministry's top civil servant. Between 2013 and 2015, over 2000 doctors left the public sector and went into private practice. The loss of talent continues.CCTV's Ramah Nyang' spoke to Dr Jacqueline Kitulu, the Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Association and he asked her how public healthcare conditions deteriorated so much in the first place.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, is heading to South Africa, South Korea and Japan to scout for new markets as the UK prepares to leave the European Union. The trip starts in South Africa, where Hammond is due to meet officials at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, business representatives and tech start-ups. South Africa is the continent's biggest buyer of British goods. This is the latest diplomatic push as the UK government attempts to lay the foundations for fresh bilateral trade ties. Theresa May has visited China and India since becoming prime minister in July, and the International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, is due to travel to Australia in early 2017.
We all know that school can be a drag sometimes. If you're a parent who doesn't care much for traditional education, there may be an answer for you. What's considered South Africa's first virtual school is up and running. Once you're in, you can complete your education from anywhere in the world. Julie Schier bring us that story.
Of every 20 premature babies born, one is Nigerian. The country accounts for over 870,000 preterm births, the third-highest in the world. This alarming trend is spurring healthcare authorities to pay more attention to neonatal needs. CCTV's Kelechi Emekalam takes a look at some of the initiatives in Nigeria.
One of the main problems a lot of African stock exchanges face is liquidity. In part, that's because local pension fund rules dictate that they have to buy local stocks, which cuts their liquidity and indirectly keeps foreigners out. However, there are solutions to that problem, according to representatives from these markets. Angelo Coppola starts us off tonight in Johannesburg.
The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development bank, commonly known as PTA bank, has re-branded itself. It's now known simply as the Trade and Development bank. The 30-year-old development finance institution has a balance sheet of about $4 B, and plans to increase its capital base to $10 B by 2022. Uche Okoronkwo spoke to the CEO of the bank, Admassu Tadesse, about its strategy and key targets.
Onto Somalia now where the country's electoral commission is yet to announce a date for the long-awaited presidential polls. The current government's mandate expired in September, and due to several delays and postponements, a new government isn't yet in place. CCTV's Abdulaziz Billow has been following the developments.
South Africa's decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court is now before its local courts. The official opposition claims the government broke the rules when it announced the withdrawal. CCTV's Angelo Coppola has more.
The third edition of the International Forum on Peace and Security has concluded in Senegal's capital, Dakar. African leaders and representatives from regional and international organisations attended the talks. They focused on security-related challenges on the continent.
Nigeria's navy has been carrying out sea drills to better prepare sailors to tackle piracy. The sea exercises are also intended to sharpen the navy's skills in the fight against pipeline vandalism in the oil-rich Delta region. Militants' attacks on oil installations have significantly cut Nigeria's production, affecting revenue. The navy says it's determined to end the attacks, as CCTV's Deji Badmus reports.
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari plans to submit his 2017 spending plan to Parliament next week. Government sources indicate the 2017 budget is likely to be 7.2 trillion naira, around $24 B. How that money is spent is vital to help lift Nigeria out of its first recession in 25 years – largely caused by low global oil prices. Last month, lawmakers said the 2017 draft budget framework was based on unrealistic assumptions about oil production and the currency exchange rate. The spending plans must be approved by Parliament before being sent back to the president to be passed into law. The 2016 budget was delayed by several months, due to wrangling between the government and the upper house of parliament.
The Chinese government has handed over four mobile clinics to Kenya. They're part of the government's efforts to ensure healthcare services are available in rural areas. The portable containers are built by the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology. They're kitted out with beds, medical equipment and basic pharmaceutical supplies.
The official search for debris from the Malaysian flight MH 370 which disappeared in March 2014 is wrapping up. Still desperate for some indication of what happened to their loved ones, families have started their own searches. Others have joined the official investigation in Madagascar.
In Ghana, vote-counting is under way after the country's presidential and parliamentary elections. Nearly 16 million people registered to choose a president on Wednesday. Among the contenders is current President John Mahama, as well as the leader of Ghana's biggest opposition party, Nana Akufo-Addo. CCTV's Katerina Vittozzi has more from the capital, Accra.
An Ethiopian photographer is exhibiting images he's captured of residents in a town called Ankober. This was the first capital city of Ethiopia during the rule of Emperor Menelik the Second, between 1844 and 1913. Coletta Wanjohi takes a look.
Earlier, the two top contenders for Ghana's presidency John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo cast their votes flanked by large crowds. This is the second time the two have faced off at the polls. Most political analysts say the vote is likely to be close. Five other candidates are also contesting the presidency, though they are considered to have little chance of victory. Both Mahama and Akufo-Addo encouraged their supporters to make their voices heard in what they've described as a decisive moment for the country.
Two major business delegations from Egypt and China have held a three-day meeting to discuss current economic cooperation between the two countries. Investment in new sectors and obstacles hindering business expansion have also featured during their talks. Adel EL Mahrouky has more.
There is growing anger in Chad as austerity measures begin to bite. The country's economy has almost ground to a halt as a result of plunging oil revenues and the cost of fighting militant groups like Boko Haram.
A South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda is using music to encourage peace in his home country. The conflict in his country has forced thousands to flee. Even though he's no longer living in South Sudan, Prince Moses Lupai is determined to use his musical talents to spread the message of peace. 
The Sudanese army has been conducting military exercises aimed at skilling soldiers in the use of advanced technology tools. It also aims to consolidate military cooperation and boost troops' efficiency. The training took place in River Nile state, north of the capital Khartoum. President Omar al-Bashir oversaw the process. It's the largest drill of its kind undertaken by the country since 1956. Sudan's military claims to be completely self-sufficient
Leaders from the intergovernmental authority on development have been meeting in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. They have been discussing the situation in Somalia and South Sudan as they seek to find lasting solutions. The heads of States and government acknowledged the gains made in Somalia but admitted immense challenges lie ahead. They also urged both the government and opposition in South Sudan to respect the peace deal. The un-ending conflict in the country is feared to open doors to a humanitarian crisis
The first ever public debate between the candidates running for chairperson of the African Union Commission has been held at the continental body's headquarters in Addis Ababa. Five candidates are competing succeed Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who leaves the post next month. They include Amina Mohamed of Kenya, Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi of Botswana, Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad and Agapito Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea. The debate gave the candidates an opportunity to speak to African citizens, popularise the AU and give their vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
On Friday evening, opposition challenger Nana Akufo-Addo received a telephone call from President John Mahama, in which Mahama conceded defeated. Supporters of the new President-elect have been taking to the streets. Katerina Vittozzi reports
The United States has condemned Gambian President Yahya Jammeh's rejection of the outcome of the country's Presidential election. In a statement issued by the U.S. State Department Spokesman Mark Toner, says Jammeh's actions are unacceptable, undermine the election process and are a breach of faith to the people of the Gambia. Last week Jammeh had initially accepted the result and called his opponent Adama Barrow to concede defeat on state television. Fearing the outcome of violence in the country, Senegal's foreign minister, Mankeur Ndiaye has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the Gambia
Legally operating a drone is a skill required in order to control a remotely piloted aircraft. The problem is: securing a licence is costly and time-consuming. This leads to many South Africans disobeying the law, with sometimes catastrophic consequences. One company in Cape Town is teaching drone users all they need to know to become ace pilots -- and it's starting them off young.
Giraffes are facing a silent extinction. Only around 90,000 of the long-necked animals still roam the African plains. But despite the latest concerns, conservationists say Ugandan giraffes are thriving -- and even growing in number in their natural habitat. CCTV's Michael Baleke reports.
Buying vegetables or fruit from a street vendor is something you'd spend your small change on. But what happens when there's a shortage of even the smallest denominations of money? That's the reality for many Zimbabweans. However, one vendor in Harare has a unique alternative for cash-strapped customers. Farai Mwakutuya reports
South Africa’s minister of home affairs Malusi Gigaba recently launched the green paper on international migration in South Africa. The green paper sets out the tone for the policy options to be represented in the white paper. Now there are a number of considerations being proposed that could negatively affect asylum seekers and migrants in the country and some of them have been meeting together, in a bid to get their voices heard, CCTV's Travers Andrews reports
When it comes to peace and security in Africa, 2016 has been a bumpy ride. With Boko Haram in the West, Al Shabaab in the East, and Al-Qaeda aligned fighters in the North, troops across the continent have been battling hard to keep conflict at bay.
But terrorism wasn’t the only threat in 2016. Political tension sparked clashes in various countries, including Burundi, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. And in spite of unprecedented economic growth and efforts towards establishing peace, experts say the socio-economic impact of on-going unrest could be felt for many years to come.
So as 2016 draws to a close, what lessons can be taken from Africa’s security situation over the past 12 months. And what can be done to ensure a peaceful 2017 for the continent?
At least 25 people were killed and 35 injured in a bomb attack on a church next to Cairo's St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Sunday.
Reports in the local media said the blast took place at around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), when an unknown attacker threw a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St. Mark's Cathedral. The blast reportedly injured dozens of others at the St. Peter's church, which lies adjacent to the cathedral.
Dozens of activists from the group AnimaNaturalis staged a bare-bodied 'die-in' protest near the Passeig de Gracia Boulevard in Barcelona, Sunday, to denounce animal cruelty and the use of animal fur for clothing.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim joined hundreds of mourners in Istanbul, Sunday, to pay their last respects to the police officers killed in Saturday's twin bombings outside Istanbul's Besiktas stadium.
Clashes broke out outside St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, Sunday, after a bomb attack on the site left at least 25 people dead and dozens more injured.
Reports in local media said the blast took place at around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), when an unknown attacker threw a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St. Mark's Cathedral. The blast reportedly injured dozens of others at St. Peter's church, which lies adjacent to the cathedral.
Former Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski cast his vote in Macedonia’s parliamentary elections in Skopje, Sunday. Gruevski was accompanied by his wife Brankica Gruevski.
SOT, Nikola Gruevski, Former Prime Minister of Macedonia (Macedonian): "Today is the day when all citizens have again the chance to choose and use their right to vote for their government and political leader and I strongly believe in correct and democratic elections."
Medical personnel attended to the victims of the Cairo Coptic cathedral bomb attack at al-Demerdash hospital, Sunday, after the explosion left at least 25 people dead and dozens more injured in the Egyptian capital.
The death toll of Saturday's twin bombings outside Istanbul's Besiktas stadium, has risen to 38 on Sunday, with 155 wounded, including 14 in intensive care. Most of the casualties are police officers.
A car bombing reportedly targetted police in the Suzer Plaza on top of the Besiktas stadium, which was followed by a reported suicide bomber in the nearby Macka Park only 45 seconds later.
So far, ten individuals have been arrested in connection to the attacks.
A total of 29 people, mostly police officers, were killed in a twin bomb attack near Besiktas stadium, Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told press in Istanbul on Saturday.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu expressed his condolences for the 13 killed in two explosions on Saturday as he made his way to the Istanbul Besiktas attack site. Those injured have been taken to Sisli Etfal Hospital and other hospitals in the area.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella announced that he is going to evaluate possible solutions in the coming hours on how to resolve the Italian governmental crisis following the referendum and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's resignation. Mattarella was speaking at a press conference in Rome on Saturday, after meeting and discussing the matter with MPs for two consecutive days.
Government subsidies in Egypt amount to about 30% of the country's annual budget. They are a huge financial strain and the country has now been forced to review the subsidy regime. Adel EL Mahrouky reports
It is the high season for crayfish in Paternoster,South Africa, a fishing village about 150 kilometers away from Cape Town. Crayfish fishing attracts a large number of tourists from South Africa and abroad.
Mamelodi Sundowns will face the Kashima Antlers in their opening encounter of the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan on Sunday, after host club saw off Auckland City in the first round of the tournament that pits the continental club winners against each other
Christmas has come early this year for kids at a children's home in Khayelitsha - one of the biggest townships in South Africa. This was made possible by members of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation in Cape Town, which is known for its charity work in poverty-stricken communities
A week ago, soon after Adama Barrow was declared winner of the Gambian elections, Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat and even publicly congratulated Barrow on his win. Now Jammeh says the vote was marred with irregularities and what he terms as 'unacceptable errors'
Somalia's Presidential elections has been postponed once again - the much awaited vote will now take place on the 28th of December - but the country has faced a major political setback after one of the leading female presidential candidates pulled out of the race. CCTV's Abdulaziz Billow has been keeping a close eye on the country's polls and files this report now from the Somali capital Mogadishu
As the African Union seeks to replace out-going chair, South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in January 2017. Nigerians say security, development and employment are the major issues the next chair should look into. Five candidates from Kenya, Botswana, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Senegal are in the running for the AUC chair
At least 30 people have been killed after a vehicle ferrying chemical gas rammed into traffic, about 77km west of Kenya's capital Nairobi. Many others were injured and rushed to hospital
The African Union what was called historical leadership debate in Addis Abeba.The debate brought together 5 candidates from five member’s states running for the post of chairperson of the African Union Commssion. CCTVs Girum chala reports
Dozens have been killed and close to two hundred were left injured after two bombs went off in crowded markets Adamawa state, North-east Nigeria. Dozens more with injuries have been moved to a nearby hospital in Mubi while others are being treated in state Capital Yola. CCTV's Kelechi Emekalam reports
Six Egyptian policemen were killed and three injured in a bomb attack, near the Pyramids area. Quickly after the attack a militant group called Hasm claimed responsibility, vowing further attacks against security personnel. Another explosion followed later in Friday, targeting a moving police car in Kafr EL Sheikh city
Chinese doctors are providing Burundians with free treatment for cataracts. The doctors operated on 182 patients. The initiative is part of the Brightness Action Campaign. It's the first time Chinese medics bring the project to East Africa. Thuli Tshabalala reports.
Anxiety is building up in Gambian after incumbent President Yahya Jammeh reversed his earlier decision to accept an election defeat. The international community is now concerned about the future of the tiny West African state.
A former Zimbabwean Football Association executive, Jonathan Musavengana, has been handed a lifetime ban by FIFA for bribery and corruption. He is accused of having a hand in the manipulation friendly international matches played by South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Musavengana has previously been implicated in Match fixing allegations relating to Zimbabwe national team games between 2007 and 2009. Ninety players and officials were banned for receiving bribes to throw matches.
The Confederation of African athletics says it will work with governments within the continent to curb the migration of athletes. The 2016 Olympics brought to the fore the allegiance switch in athletics with country's complaining certain states were buying talent. Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Ruth Jebet won gold for her adopted nation in the 3,000m steeplechase. Even as the IAAF works on stricter rules on transfer of allegiance, CAA wants governments to help.

Libyan forces have declared a new victory. Backed by U.S. air strikes, they've finally taken control of the last ISIL stronghold in the city of Sirte.
There is a continued political anxiety in Gambia. A number of West African leaders are expected in that country on Tuesday, to mediate peace talks. This follows incumbent President Yahya Jammeh's change of heart about election results that found opposition leader Adama Barrow victorious. Here's more on that developing story
A 47-year-old Nigerian is using sports to preserve the culture of his community's ethnic wraps. Adjarho David Obaro -- nicknamed "World Wrapper Man" -- has run long distance races in a wrap that's 34 metres long and weighs four kilograms. Over the weekend, he ran 15 kilometres in Lagos as part of a fundraiser for his former school. CCTV's Deji Badmus reports
Nigeria has announced a plan to ban the imports of used and new vehicles via its land borders. Come January 2017, imports will be restricted to sea ports only. It's a move analysts say may help steer the economy out of a recession. Sophia Adengo has the story
Nigeria's senior women's football team may approach the presidency in protest against the non-payment of their allowances and salaries. The Super Falcons won their title for the eighth time at the the African Women's Cup of Nations at the weekend. CCTV's Kelechi Emekalam has more.
The trial against former Lord's Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen enters its second day at the International Criminal Court. Ongwen has pleaded not guilty to more than 70 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In his native Uganda, the ICC has set up viewing sites to enable locals to watch the proceedings. Communities in northern Uganda have borne the brunt of the violence carried out by the LRA. Many of the victims are hoping justice will prevail, as Leon Ssenyange reports
Over the past three years, the Moroccan Premier League -- Botola -- has attracted an increasing number of foreign players. [TAKE VO] In 2013, the federation relaxed its regulations, which opened the door for clubs to recruit talent from abroad. One of these clubs is Kawkab Club Marrakech -- KCM -- whose squad includes four foreign players. 18-year-old, Abdelkareem Sidibe of Mali signed a five-year deal with KCM last year. 20-year-old Cyrille Kpan is from Burkina Faso. The attacker played for the Under-19 and Under-23 sides in his home country, and is linked to a move to Portuguese giants Benfica in January 2017
A group of Egyptian women has taken to social media to encourage people to buy locally made products to support the economy. The 'Proudly Made in Egypt' Facebook page aims to make people aware of quality local alternatives to imported goods

Ghana has a record of peaceful polls

In Ghana, voting is under way in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections. Nearly 16 million people have registered to make their mark. Among the contenders for president is the incumbent, John Mahama, as well as the leader of Ghana's biggest opposition party, Nana Akufo-Addo. CCTV's Katerina Vittozzi has more from the capital, Accra.