Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

Welcome back to BBC Africa Live where we'll be keeping you up to date with news and events on the continent.

BBC Africa Live
Lucy Fleming

That's all from BBC Africa Live until Thursday. You can keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or checking the BBC News website.

A reminder of Wednesday's African proverb:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And to end here's a photo taken by the BBC's Ayo Bello in Ghana's capital of the artist "Real Pen Pencil" sketching a portrait of Kofi Annan at the Accra International Conference Centre, where the former UN chief's body is lying in state.

Image source, Ayo Bello/BBC

Jose Tembe
BBC Africa, Maputo

Police in northern Mozambique say two albino children have been kidnapped in two separate incidents.

They say the abductions of the children, aged four and 11, took place at night-time while they slept.

The head of public relations in Niassa province, Joana Maxone, said the police were doing all they could to capture the kidnappers and rescue the children.

Joana Afonso, the aunt of one of the abductees, described how her 11-year old nephew was taken in Lichinga district.

“The child was sleeping with his grandmother when the bandits came at night and took him away. We shouted for help, but no neighbour came to our rescue. The criminals were travelling on a motorbike.”

The kidnapping of people with albinism is common in many parts of Mozambique. They are hunted down because of the belief that potions made from their body parts can bring good luck and wealth.

Image source, Facebook

E. coli caused the death of a British couple who died after falling ill at a holiday resort in Egypt, Egyptian authorities have said.

John Cooper, 69, and his wife Susan, 63, from Burnley, Lancashire, died in Hurghada on 21 August.

In an official statement, the Egyptian general prosecutor said post-mortem examinations showed E. coli bacteria was a factor in both deaths.

But the couple's daughter called the report "absolute rubbish".

Read the BBC News story for more

London’s Design Museum has 87 nominees for its Beazley Designs of the Year – and included in the fashion category is Nigeria’s World Cup football kit.

The Super Eagles went out in the group stages of the tournament in Russia - but their outfits definitely won the fashion stakes.

The home and away shirts sold out on the Nike website soon after they were released - and there were long queues at the beginning of June in London with fans anxious to get their hands on the shirts:

All the contenders for the annual design award are on display at an exhibition until 6 January - and the winners will be announced on 15 November, external.

According to the Design Museum, hundreds of design experts from around the world nominate the most innovative and thought-provoking designs from the past 12 months, external for the awards.

They fall into six categories: fashion, architecture, digital, transport, product and graphic design.

Munira Hussein
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

Fake nails and fake eyelashes are the topic of debate here in Tanzania after the parliamentary speaker banned female MPs from wearing them earlier this week.

He cited health risks as the reason for the ban.

Fredrick Mashini, a lecturer at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, said the glue used for fake nails and lashes might cause allergies for some people.

Hygiene was also key concern.

“Fake lashes are thick and long so they may carry bacteria to the eyes,” he said.

But Amina Juma, a Dar es Salaam resident who uses fake nails and eyelashes, told the BBC she had never experienced any adverse side-effects:

Some women who admitted to using fake nails, said they were more concerned about using fake eyelashes.

Monica Shayo told me:

Female MP Upendo Peneza said the ban – which also applies to women visiting parliament – is going be hard to implement.

Mouna Ba
BBC Arabic, Rabat

Image source, AFP

Activist Samira Raiss has welcomed that Morocco's law criminalising violence against women has come into force.

She has campaigned for years for such a law and told me she was happy that her hard work had finally paid off.

These shortcomings include a failure to provide a definition of domestic violence and it does not explicitly criminalise marital rape.

Ms Raiss added:

Violence against women has become a hot topic in Morocco after cases of sexual harassment were highlighted on social media and by rights groups.

Bouthaina Karouri, an MP on the committee that drafted the law passed by parliament in March, admitted that “no law was perfect”.

Women in the capital, Rabat, have welcomed the new law – especially the banning of harassment in public places:

One told the BBC:

Another added:

A government survey in 2009 found that more than 60% of Moroccan women had been subjected to some kind of violence.

One man interviewed on a street in Rabat told the BBC he was against the law because “many women like to be harassed”.

This new law is a significant step forward but critics wonder to what extent it will help change the harsh reality in the lives of many Moroccan women.

They say education and awareness are just as important to see real change.

Read more: Morocco bans forced marriage

Image source, Reuters

Kenya’s Central Bank has fined five commercial banks linked to an alleged $78m (£59m) corruption scandal involving the National Youth Service (NYS).

The missing funds were allegedly stolen in a scheme involving senior government officials and ghost suppliers.

Standard Chartered, Equity Bank, KCB Bank, Co-operative Bank and Diamond Trust Bank were collectively fined just under $4m.

They are accused of being conduits of fraudulent payments to suppliers of the NYS.

The NYS is an initiative by the government to train young people in life and business skills. It was part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's plan to fix Kenya's high youth unemployment.

BBC Africa Business’s Hudheifa Aden says Kenya’s director of public prosecution is expected to determine the criminal culpability of the accused banks.

NYS boss Richard Ndubai, who was arrested in May, is among 20 officials already facing charges over the scandal.

Opposition leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo have gathered in Belgium's capital, Brussels, to decide on a joint candidate for long-delayed elections now scheduled for December.

Journalists have tweeted photos of the gathering, showing Jean-Pierre Bemba, Moise Katumbi, Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe among those preparing to make an expected announcement.

Of those pictured, only Mr Tshisekedi and Mr Kamerhe are on the list of official presidential candidates.

Last week, DR Congo's highest court ruled that Mr Bemba was ineligible because of a conviction for witness tampering by the International Criminal Court.

While Mr Katumbihe remains in exile after the authorities refused him entry to the country last month ahead of a deadline to register as a candidate.

A wealthy businessman and former governor, Mr Katumbi left DR Congo in 2016 and was as later sentenced in absentia to 36 months in prison on charges he says are politically motivated.

Last month, President Joseph Kabila, whose second term ended in 2016, said he would not be seeking a third term - and the governing coalition has nominated former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to be its candidate.

Ethiopian Belachew Girma - a "world laughter master" - can laugh for literally hours at a time.

He thinks everyone should laugh more if they want to lead healthier, happier lives.

Watch his advice in this video produced by Yadeta Berhanu:

Police in Zimbabwe have banned all public gatherings in the capital, Harare, to control the spread of cholera, which has killed 21 people and infected more than 2,000 other residents.

It comes a day after the authorities declared a state of emergency over the outbreak - blamed on two infected boreholes:

Harare City Council has struggled to supply water to some suburbs for more than a decade, forcing people to rely on wells and community boreholes for water.

The country suffered its biggest cholera outbreak in 2008 - at the height of an economic meltdown, which hampered the medical response to the crisis. More than 4,000 people died.

BBC Africa's Stanley Kwenda has tweeted the police statement - and questioned whether the ban affects political gatherings.

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa had planned to hold a rally on Saturday with plans for a mock presidential swearing in - to protest against the victory of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in July's election.

Andrew Walker
World Service economics correspondent

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s proposed new alliance with Africa to deepen economic relations and boost investment and jobs involves a "continent-to-continent" free trade agreement.

The proposal could help create up to 10 million jobs in Africa in the next five years alone, Mr Juncker said (see earlier post).

It builds on a patchwork of deals that are already in place which give almost all countries in Africa extensive tariff free access to the EU's market.

However, Mr Juncker's proposal is more comprehensive.

Africa has a programme for building a continent-wide free trade arrangement of its own, which most countries have signed - the most notable omission is Nigeria, whose president has been reluctant.

One issue is how effectively Africa could come together to negotiate collectively - something the EU has been doing for many years.

The proposals also envisage more opportunities for Africans to boost skills by, for example, studying at European universities.

They also call for support for African countries with reforms to improve the climate for business and increased financial assistance.

The EU is proposing a total of 40bn euros ($46bn; £35bn) in grants over the seven years from 2021.

What does the EU have to gain from this?

The EU wants to expand its engagement with Africa as an increasingly important region of the world.

In another part of his speech, Mr Juncker called for reform in how the EU deals with immigration, which has been politically difficult in several EU countries.

Promoting economic development could reduce the incentives for Africans to seek a more prosperous life in Europe.

EU proposals:

• Facilitate African students to study at European universities
• Help Africa to improve the climate for business and increased financial assistance
• Provide a total of $46bn in grants over the seven years from 2021

Read more: Juncker unveils EU's Africa plan to counter China

Image source, Getty Images

Algerian singer Rachid Taha has died of a heart attack at the age of 59 at his home in Paris, French media reports.

His music was a unique mix of Algerian Maghreb "rai" rhythms and electronic rock – and he made it big in the 1980s in France.

He was born in the Algerian city of Oran and moved to France aged 10.

He saw himself as a “permanent immigrant” in France, a BBC Radio 3 article about the singer says.

He was the lead singer of Carte de Séjour, a French rock band popular in the 1980s.

“For me, music is rock & roll, coloured by what is inside me and what is outside me. My music enables me to express my multiple identities,” Taha said in 2004.

According to his official Facebook page, he was due to give a performance in Lyon later this month, external with one of long-time collaborators Steve Hillage.

Eclectic in his tastes, he pushed boundaries with his own music as well as doing covers such as an Arabic version of The Clash's Rock the Casbah.

Taha's fans have been paying tribute to him on Twitter, including Moroccan musician Reda Allali who remembered him as flamboyant and genuine:

Ghanaians are continuing to pay respects to Kofi Annan, the former UN chief whose body is currently lying in state at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Many are continuing come to pay their respects to him ahead of his funeral on Thursday.

But according to Ghana’s CitiFM, there has been some upset that the casket is covered, external.

The news website quoted a mourner as saying: “We were surprised and we just came and saw the casket closed with a Ghana flag [draped over it]. So we were just asking that; did we come to observe the Ghana flag or we came to observe [him].

Image source, Ayo Bello/BBC

Ghanaian funeral rites are elaborate – and the BBC’s Mayeni Jones has tweeted a video of a procession from Mr Annan’s home state of Akwamu arriving at the centre.

Here are some close-up shots, taken by the BBC's Ayo Bello, of the paramount chiefs' magnificent ceremonial umbrellas:

Image source, Ayo Bello/BBC

Image source, Ayo Bello/BBC

Image source, Ayo Bello/BBC

Part of the events on Wednesday have included officials paying their respects to Mr Annan's relatives. The tweet below shows members of a peacekeeping training centre in Ghana, named after Mr Annan, greeting family members:

Mr Annan, the second African to become UN secretary-general, died aged 80 last month.

He served two terms, from 1997 to 2006, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

Read: Remembering the world's top diplomat

Kennedy Gondwe
BBC News, Lusaka

Image source, AFP

Former Zambian Vice-President Nevers Mumba has avoided prison after pleading that as a pastor, his congregation would suffer if he went to jail.

The cleric and politician was convicted on two counts of abuse of the authority of office by the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The charges relate to his time when he served as Zambia’s ambassador to Canada between 2009 and 2011.

He was found guilty of awarding a contract to a Canadian company to do electrical works at the official residence of the high commissioner.

He was also found guilty of not following the correct procedure in the awarding of another contract for electrical and carpeting work, as well as the construction of a desk at the same residence.

After his guilty verdict was announced, Mumba pleaded in mitigation that his church members could not do without him.

The magistrate accepted this and Mumba, who served as vice-president between 2003 and 2004, will not serve any sentence as he was granted an absolute discharge.

Mumba is still involved in politics, and is now a faction leader of the former ruling party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

But the state-owned Zambia Daily Mail paper says the conviction will mean he may not be able to run for president:

Image source, Kennedy Gondwe

A memorial service for three South African firefighters, who died last week while battling a blaze, is taking place at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

Earlier, there were emotional scenes as wreaths were laid at the Bank of Lisbon building where the tragedy took place.

Journalists have been tweeting photos and videos from the scene, including one of a choir paying tribute to their colleagues.

The mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, was also at the wreath laying, tweeting using the hashtag #JoburgsBravest:

The service at Ellis Park is now under way to remember Mduduzi Ndlovu, Khathutshelo Muedi and Simphiwe Moropana.

In the week since their death, there have been an outpouring of emotion commending their bravery and offers of support for their families.

Mr Moropana fell from the block while fighting the fire in the government building. Mr Ndlovu and Mr Muedi became trapped in the building.

Fifty-one year old Liberian President George Weah broke out into a sweat when he took to the pitch on Tuesday evening during an international friendly in the capital, Monrovia.

Image source, EPA

Weah, the first African footballer to win Fifa's World Player of the Year award, featured for 79 minutes in the game, which Nigeria won 2-1.

Liberia arranged the friendly to retire their number 14 shirt, worn by Weah at his playing peak.

Image source, EPA

Sworn in as president in January, the former AC Milan striker received a standing ovation as he was substituted.

Weah told the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh that his footballing skill would never leave him:

He also revealed that he was originally assigned the number 14 jersey when he was a substitute for the national team:

Image source, AFP

The only working airport in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, is out of action again, only days after it re-opened.

Rockets were fired in the direction of Mitiga International Airport late on Tuesday.

An armed faction controlling it said there were no casualties or damage, but flights are being diverted to Misrata, nearly 200km (120 miles) east of the capital.

The airport had only reopened on Friday following clashes between rival militias.

A ceasefire, brokered by the United Nations, had been signed by armed groups.

Days of clashes in Tripoli had killed at least 50 people and wounded dozens of others, mainly civilians.

Nearly seven years after the ousting of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was also killed in the uprising, the North Africa country remains in turmoil.

A UN-backed government is nominally in power in Tripoli but militias occupy much of the rest of the country.

Last week, the BBC's Clive Myrie reported on the devastating impact the fighting was having on communities. Watch his report:

Image source, EPA

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has delivered his state of union speech, calling for a new Africa-Europe alliance.

The Reuters news agency quoted him as telling the European Parliament in Strasbourg:

Read the BBC News story for more.