BBC World Service

Reports from Sierra Leone say people have been killed after police opened fire on anti-government protesters in the capital, Freetown.

Clashes broke out when demonstrators set up roadblocks.

Police are reported to be among the dead.

The protests are against the rising cost of living, corruption and police brutality.

They have also been taking place in several towns in the north of Sierra Leone.

The government has declared a nationwide curfew and observers say there is a near- total shutdown of the internet.

Footage posted earlier on social media appears to show large crowds of people on the streets of the capital.

The creation of the Africa Super League will transform football on the continent forever, according to Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe.

The case is connected to an attack on eight women filming a music video at an abandoned mine.

Samba Cyuzuzo
BBC Great Lakes

Image source, Drew Bantlin & Akagera

The number of lions in Rwanda have risen to more than 40 since 2015 when they were re-introduced after almost two decades of absence.

Following poaching and human activities in Rwanda, they were killed and not a single lion remained by the year 2000, officials said.

In 2015 the government partnered with the South African-based organization to bring seven lions into Rwanda’s Akagera national park.

August 10 is marked as World Lion Day to brings attention to this endangered species.

Image source, Getty Images

Nigerian afrobeats star of hit song Buga, Kizz Daniel, has apologised to Tanzanians for failing to show up for a performance there over the weekend.

He was supposed to sing at the Summer Amplified Show, but could not make it due to what he described as circumstances beyond his control including flight issues and missing equipment.

"I must apologise to the fans. None of this was intentional," he said.

"I didn’t mean to disrespect the fans," he continued.

He has promised to make up for what happened by doing a free show.

On Sunday fans got angry about the no-show and even proceeded to allegedly vandalise the concert venue, which led to reports of Kizz Daniel's arrest.

However, the singer said he was not arrested, but authorities invited him for questioning over the chaotic scenes at the concert venue.

BBC World Service

A court in Tunisia is reported to have suspended the dismissal of 50 judges who were fired by President Kais Saied two months ago, the Reuters news agency reports.

He had accused them of corruption and protecting terrorists.

In response, judges across Tunisia went on strike in a significant challenge to Mr Saied's authority.

Opponents of the president saw the sackings as another attempt to increase his power and weaken civil institutions.

Guy Bandolo
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

People who refuse a marriage proposal in Mangalmé in north-eastern Chad must now pay a fine, known as "amchilini".

The region's Higher Islamic Council ruled that the figure be between $23 (£18) and $39 for women and $15 for men.

The Chadian Women's Rights League has launched the hashtag #StopAmchilini to denounce the decision, saying it is illegal as it violates a national law guaranteeing freedom of consent to marriage.

The Islamic Council says its decision was inspired by the Quran.

Forced marriages are prevalent in Chad, with young under-age girls the usual victims.

Despite a law passed in 2015 that prohibits child marriages, 60% of women aged between 20 and 24 were married when they were still children, according to figures from Chad's Institute of Statistics.

Italian Serie A club Cremonese sign Nigeria forward Cyriel Dessers from Belgian side Genk.

BBC reporters take a look at possible electoral outcomes in Kenya as vote counting continues.

Roncliffe Odit
BBC News, Kisumu

It is calm and quiet in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, the political base of presidential frontrunner Raila Odinga.

Residents are keenly following the results from their phones and radios.

Business is slowly coming back to normal - most were closed on Tuesday for election day.

Shops and restaurants are now open, and motorcycle taxis - known as boda bodas - are back on the road.

A few hawkers are selling whistles and vuvuzelas in anticipation of what they hope will be Mr Odinga’s victory.

They say they will blow their voices away if and when the electoral commission announces him as the winner.

More than 90% of polling stations have reported, but the official result may not be known for days.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Seven men linked to the sexual assault of a group of women at an abandoned mine near Johannesburg in South Africa have been officially charged with multiple counts of rape.

The men were among more than 60 suspects who appeared in court on immigration and firearm charges. They are believed to be illegal miners who dig for gold around disused mine shafts.

The women were filming a music video when the attack took place.

The case sparked violent protests in townships around the mines and anger nationwide.

Demonstrators also gathered outside the court ahead of the hearings.

BBC World Service

The killing of a young student in Egypt has intensified the debate about male violence against women in the country.

Salma Bahgat was stabbed 17 times in the city of Zagazig where she was studying at university.

The incident was caught on video; the suspect is reportedly a fellow student who had been her boyfriend.

He has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

The killing is similar to that of Naira Ashraf earlier this year; she was murdered by another student whose advances she reportedly rejected.

The case attracted huge attention in Egypt and across the Arab world.

Nomsa Maseko
BBC Southern Africa correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Demonstrators have gathered outside a court in South Africa where more than 60 men are due to appear on immigration and firearm charges.

The men have been linked to the sexual assault of a group of women who were filming a music video at an abandoned mine near Johannesburg.

They are believed to be illegal miners who dig for gold around disused shafts.

The case sparked violent protests in townships around the mines.

Police say the victims have now identified some of their attackers, and officers are finalising DNA tests which could link the men to 32 counts of rape.

Emmanuel Igunza
BBC News, Eldoret

I have has just snapped these photos of supporters of a politician who has won a local council in the Kenyan town of Eldoret.

They are adorning themselves with grassy laurel-like plants traditionally called “sinendet” - often used in celebrations and special occasions.

This area is a stronghold for Deputy President William Ruto, who is one of the presidential frontrunners.

Those celebrating their local victory also have their eyes on who wins the presidency.

"All we want is peace - whoever wins the presidency should make sure he unites the country so that we can quickly end this electoral process and go back to our jobs and earning a living. Because life has come to a standstill because of politics,” Rosemary Wangare, one of those wearing the celebratory plant, told me.

In fact most businesses have remained closed since Tuesday’s election - with many people following results from cafes and pubs.

African football will support Fifa president Gianni Infantino in his re-election bid next year, according to Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe.

Aboubakar Famau
BBC News, Kilifi

As Kenyans await the updates on the results of their presidential election yesterday, spirits are upbeat this morning on the coast as counting continues and business in Mombasa and elsewhere returns to normal.

Officers from the electoral body are still busy as tallying is ongoing at various centres.

I have just travelled to Kilifi county, 60km (40 miles) up the coast from Mombasa, to Pwani University where a tallying centre has been set up.

Here the most highly anticipated result is that for the powerful position of county governor as the incumbent is standing down after two terms - and it is a tight race between Gideon Mung'aro (ODM) and Aisha Jumwa (UDA).

There is tight security at the centre - with officials and party agents working hard at their counting.

A football club in Sierra Leone under investigation for alleged match manipulation following a 91-1 win could be promoted.

Peter Mwai
BBC Reality Check

Image source, AFP

With Kenyans awaiting results for Tuesday's presidential elections, some online users have been sharing misleading claims about the results and the voting process.

A blogger supporting Deputy President William Ruto shared a results form on Twitter indicating that voter turnout at a polling station in his main opponent, Raila Odinga’s, stronghold of Kisumu in western Kenya was 107.7%.

“Kondele Market 1 registered voters is indicated as 362 and those who cast the votes are 390,” he tweeted., external

Reading the data on the form gives an impression that more people than were registered to vote cast their ballots.

However, looking at the official data of the registered voters on the electoral commission's website shows the actual number of voters at the station is 632.

A clerical error – switching six and three - made it appear as if the votes were inflated.

Separately, a spokesperson for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga claimed Mr Ruto’s running mate had only voted after his name was checked on the printed register.

Makau Mutua claimed the electronic kits, external used to identify voters at the polling station had failed to identify Rigathi Gachagua, whose coalition has been campaigning against the use of a manual register.

While the electronic kit initially had challenges identifying Mr Gachagua, it eventually worked after he rubbed his finger on his hair allowing him to vote.

Jose Tembe
BBC News, Maputo

Mozambique has banned people from filming accident or disaster scenes before calling in the emergency authorities to provide assistance.

The move is aimed at changing the attitudes of citizens who only take photos of accidents or other emergency situations and publish them on social media.

The measure is part of the new National Public Safety Service law approved in December last year and has now just taken effect.

Those who do not comply must pay a fine of an amount up to a 100 times the country's minimum wage of $125.

This is if an investigation proves that a person who disseminated the images was at the scene but did not inform the authorities, Leonildo Pelembe, the head of the country's fire brigade said.

A person providing false information about a particular incident may also face criminal prosecution, according to the spokesman for the national criminal investigation authority.

“For example, in a case where an individual appears in the media saying that the firefighters arrived late and there is no way to prove it”, he explained.

While the new measure is now in effect, a regulation on how it is to be implemented is being drafted - to include details of when an offence deserves minimum or maximum punishment.