Nairobi, Feb 20 (IANS) Kenya's football federation confirmed that the search of a successor to the departed Frenchman Henri Michel was over with four candidates short-listed and the final choice is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Nairobi, Feb 19 (IANS) Athletics Kenya (AK) president Isaiah Kiplagat posed a pertinent question at the recently concluded International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Permit Meeting here. "How did people expect Kenya to post good results at the 2012 Olympics when we trained the entire team consisting of 47 athletes on a total budget of $470,000 while Jamaica invested $1.2 million on Usain Bolt only," he asked.

Nairobi, Feb 19 (IANS) The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has said it has granted authority to the Central Bank of India (CBI) to open a representative office in Kenya, the sixth foreign bank to be authorized to operate in the east Africa nation.

Nairobi, Feb 17 (IANS) Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Kenyan government are in the process of submitting a bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2015 Africa Youth Championships.

Pretoria, Feb 21 (IANS) The second day of paralympian Oscar Pistorius's bail hearing ended without a court ruling on his application.

Cape Town, Feb 21 (IANS) The South African government has said it will push the African agenda at the 5th BRICS summit to be held in Durban March 26-27.

Pretoria, Feb 20 (IANS) The bail hearing of murder-accused Paralympian Oscar Pistorius resumed at the Pretoria Magistrate Court Wednesday with a large media contingent scrambling to get inside.

Centurion, Feb 20 (IANS) South Africa cricket coach Gary Kirsten has requested the curator for a less turning track when they take on Pakistan in the third and final Test here at the SuperSport Park here Friday.

Gaborone, Feb 21 (IANS) Botswana's cricket national team will depart for Uganda Thursday to compete in the International Cricket Council (ICC) - Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Twenty 20 Division One tournament that starts Sunday.

Gaborone, Feb 15 (IANS) The value of Botswana's rough diamond exports dropped by 20 percent in 2012, according to data released by the central Bank of Botswana.

Gaborone, Feb 12 (IANS) Australian miner Hodges Resources has announced it has approved feasibility phase studies for its Morupule South coal project in central east Botswana, with a start up of between two to three million tonnes per annum.

Gaborone (Bostwana), Feb 10 (IANS) FIFA president Joseph Blatter urged that African countries should improve their professional leagues, so as to maintain young players in their own countries.

Gaborone, Feb 21 (IANS) Botswana's cricket national team will depart for Uganda Thursday to compete in the International Cricket Council (ICC) - Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Twenty 20 Division One tournament that starts Sunday.

Pretoria, Feb 21 (IANS) The second day of paralympian Oscar Pistorius's bail hearing ended without a court ruling on his application.

Cape Town, Feb 21 (IANS) The South African government has said it will push the African agenda at the 5th BRICS summit to be held in Durban March 26-27.

Abuja, Feb 21 (IANS) At least three people were killed and two injured in a suicide bomb attack Wednesday in Nigeria's Maiduguri city, Xinhua reported. The dead included the suicide bomber.

Port Louis (Mauritius), Feb 8 (IANS) More than 100 primary school students fell ill Thursday after having lunch at their school in the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius, officials said.

Flic en Flac (Mauritius), Oct 27 (IANS) Viewing Mauritius as a gateway to engage the African continent, India organised here a major round table on business, focusing on foreign investments.

Entebbe (Uganda), Aug 16 (IANS) Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni rewarded Steven Kiprotich, gold medal winner at the London Olympics, with 200 million shillings ($81,300).

Kampala (Uganda), June 9 (IANS) Senegal's head coach Joseph Koto is confident his team will pick three points against Uganda Saturday when the two teams clash in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at Namboole Stadium on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Kampala (Uganda), April 26 (IANS) Embattled president of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Rogers Ddungu has been suspended by his Executive Committee which has accused him of abuse of office.

Kampala (Uganda), Feb 10 (IANS) Football's world governing body FIFA has urged the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to amend its constitution to avoid internal disputes in the future.

Cairo, Feb 15 (IANS/EFE) Egyptian archaeologists have discovered several Greek and Roman tombs dating from as early as 332 B.C. in the Al-Qabari district of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, authorities said.

Cairo, Feb 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A court in Cairo has ordered popular video sharing website YouTube to be blocked for hosting the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims", state media reported.

Cairo, Jan 31 (IANS/EFE) The discovery of a 3,550-year-old child's sarcophagus near the southern Egyptian city of Luxor could shed light on a little-known period of Ancient Egypt, said Jose Manuel Galan, the head of a Spanish team of archaeologists that made the find.

Cairo, Jan 30 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Three people were killed in the ongoing riots here in the Egyptian capital, the health ministry said Wednesday.

Addis Ababa, Feb 14 (IANS) Ethiopia will be hosting the first international exhibition of private art collection from more than 24 countries in March at the National Museum in the capital Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa, Jan 27 (IANS) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday attended the African Union Summit as a special guest and reiterated the call for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territory.

Addis Ababa, Aug 4 (IANS) The state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) can heave a sigh of relief, with signs of a truce, at least in oil, between Sudan and South Sudan raising hopes that India's $3 billion investment in the world's newest nation is safe.

Addis Ababa, July 30 (IANS) With the Olympics on, it's a fever nobody seems to mind in the 54-nation continent at any time. Soccer fever, which afflicts nearly every African, has now become a powerful tool to kick malaria out of the continent of a billion people where the mosquito-borne disease kills about 2,500 people a day.

Lusaka, Feb 7 (IANS) At least 51 people were killed in Zambia Thursday when the bus they were travelling in collided with a truck in the southern African country, Xinhua reported.

Lusaka (Zambia), Feb 6 (IANS) The head of Zambia's football governing body Wednesday welcomed the government's decision to bid for hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Lusaka, Jan 26 (IANS) Zambia's largest emerald producer, Kagem Mining, plans to double production in the next five years as it tries to put the country's emeralds at the forefront of the world's jewellery industry, a senior company official said.

Lusaka (Zambia), July 18 (IANS) Zambia will host neighbours Zimbabwe in an international football friendly next month to test the flood lights at its newly-built ultra modern stadium.

Harare (Zimbabwe), Jan 17 (IANS/CMC) Coach Alan Butcher says he is anticipating a tough series when Zimbabwe cricketers arrive in the Caribbean for their four-week tour next month.

Harare, Dec 5 (IANS) Zimbabwe has lost at least 190 elephants owing to water shortage at Hwange National Park, the largest in the country, during the dry season this year, said authorities.

Harare, Dec 5 (IANS) Zimbabwe has lost a total of 190 elephants due to water shortage this year, according to wildlife authorities.

Harare, Nov 22 (IANS) An AIDS support organisation in Zimbabwe will launch a new and modified female condom after the first one launched in the country was discontinued as it "made a lot of noise during the act".

Mogadishu, Oct 6 (IANS) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud Saturday named Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, as the country's new prime Minister, nearly a month after the president was elected.

Mogadishu, Sep 21 (IANS) At least 14 people, including three journalists and a number of Somali government officials, were killed and many others injured in two suicide bombings at a bar in the Somali capital, Xinhua reported.

Mogadishu, Aug 21 (IANS) A Somali sprinter, who was member of the Olympic team at the 2008 Beijing Games, died during an attempt to reach the Italian shores on a boat full of migrants, the AKI news agency reported.

Mogadishu, Aug 1 (IANS) At least two suicide bombers were shot dead in Mogadishu when they approached a venue of the Somalia's National Constituent Assembly meeting Wednesday.

Khartoum, Jan 16 (IANS) Four Chinese workers who were abducted Jan 12 in Sudan's Darfur region have been released, the Chinese embassy here said Wednesday.

Khartoum, Jan 3 (IANS) At least 22 people have been killed and 25 others injured in armed clashes in Sudan's East Darfur state, Xinhua reported.

Khartoum, Dec 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) South Sudan's army has apologised for downing a UN helicopter, saying soldiers mistook it for an aircraft that was supplying arms to rebel forces.

Khartoum, Nov 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Sudanese government has arrested 12 top military officers, including former national security service head Salah Abdalla Gosh, on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government, Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said.

Luanda (Angola), Dec 18 (IANS) Angola's national football team has planned a training stint in Brazil to prepare for the Cup of African Nations in 2012 (CAN 2012) to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from Jan 21.

Roseau (Dominica), Nov 22 (IANS/CMC) Retired ICC Elite Panel umpire Billy Doctrove has been re−elected president of the Windward Islands Cricket Umpires Association.

Yaounde, Sep 14 (IANS) Cameroon Sports Minister Adoum Garoua has appointed Jean-Paul Akono as the new coach of the national football team after incumbent Denis Lavagne was sacked.

Yaounde (Cameroon), Aug 28 (IANS) Cameroon's top striker Samuel Eto'o Tuesday turned down the invitation to return to the national team for the 2013 African Nations Cup first leg qualifier against Cape Verde Islands Sep 8.

Yaounde (Cameroon), May 18 (IANS) Cameroon's legendary footballer Roger Milla was sacked as the honorary president of Cameroon football federation (FECAFOOT) after criticising the federation and its president Iya Mohamed.

Brazzaville, March 5 (IANS) The toll in Sunday's arms depot blast here in the capital of the Republic of Congo has risen to 200, the country's presidential office said.

Brazzaville, March 4 (IANS) More than 100 people, including three Chinese workers, were killed in an explosion Sunday at a construction site in this capital of the Republic of Congo, hospital officials said. Over 300 people were injured.

Algiers, Jan 31 (IANS) David Cameron Thursday wrapped up his two-day visit to Algeria, the first by a British prime minister since 1962, and headed for Tripoli on a surprise visit to Libya, Xinhua reported.

Algiers, Jan 21 (IANS) A total of 37 foreign hostages of eight countries were killed during the four-day standoff with militants at the In Amenas gas complex, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said Monday.

Algiers, Jan 20 (IANS) The Algerian Special Forces have discovered 25 bodies in the gas field facility attacked by militants in Tiguentourine in southern the country, a media report said Sunday.

Algiers, Jan 19 (IANS) As many as 31 workers, including 19 foreign nationals, who were taken hostage by an armed group in a gas field in Algeria, have been killed since the beginning of the Algerian army's rescue operation, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Accra, Feb 16 (IANS) Ghana will strengthen the capacity of the technical crew of the Black Stars, its senior national football team, to win future trophies, Kwasi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), said here.

Accra, Feb 9 (IANS) Ghana will invest more in its sports infrastructure in the coming years to promote tourism and rake in the desired foreign exchange, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, minister-designate for Youth and Sports, said here.

Accra, Feb 8 (IANS) Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama has said the government would engage the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to perform a post-mortem on the Black Stars' failure to glitter in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

Accra, Feb 7 (IANS) Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama will Thursday officially move the seat of the government of the West African nation from the old colonial slave post Osu Castle to the Flagstaff House built with India's help.

Monrovia, Oct 24 (IANS) Discussions are underway between India and Liberia to construct a solar energy centre in the West African country, an official said Wednesday.

Monrovia (Liberia), Sep 9 (IANS) The Liberian national team, Lone Star, forced Nigeria's Super Eagles to a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg of the qualifying rounds of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Monrovia (Liberia), Feb 21 (IANS) The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has fired 56-year-old Italian coach Roberto Landi from the national team.

Monrovia, Nov 7 (IANS) A fresh riot broke out on Monday in Liberia's capital Monrovia, with casualties feared and properties being destroyed ahead of Tuesday's presidential run-off election.

Antananarivo (Madagascar), July 19 (IANS) Seven athletes will represent Madagascar at the London Olympics, official from the island country's Olympic Committee has said.

Lilongwe (Malawi), June 22 (IANS) Police in northern Malawi have found bodies of some 48 of the 60 Somalis and Ethiopians who were drowned in Lake Malawi earlier this week. The rest are also feared to be dead, Xinhua reported citing local media.

Lilongwe, April 6 (IANS) Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika died Thursday afternoon following an heart attack, Xinhua reported. He was 78.

Lilongwe (Malawi), Jan 8 (IANS) A court in Malawi in southern Africa has ordered the deportation of 10 Bangladeshi nationals who were arrested on charges of illegal entry into the country, Xinhua reported.

Rabat (Morocco), Sep 23 (IANS) The Moroccan Football Federation appointed Rachid Taoussi as the new coach of the national team replacing Belgian Eric Gerets, who was sacked last Saturday.

Rabat, Sep 4 (IANS) Forty-two people were killed and 24 injured Tuesday when their passenger bus fell into a ravine in southern Morocco, a media report said.

Rabat, July 16 (IANS) The Moroccan government Monday declared the Syrian ambassador to its country persona non grata in the wake of last week's carnage at Syria's Traimseh town. In a tit for tat action, Syria retaliated with Damascus announcing the Moroccan envoy to Syria unwanted in the country.

The winds of the 'Arab Spring' were channeled by Morocco to expand and consolidate democracy and accelerate the pace of political reforms. His Majesty,The King Mohammed VI, announced in March 2011 a profound constitutional reform, which was largely supported by the Moroccan people through a referendum.

Rabat (Morocco), June 6 (IANS) An aircraft of the size of an Airbus A340, fitted with 12,000 solar cells, took off from Madrid, Spain, flew about 800 km over the Mediterranean and arrived safely in Morocco Wednesday, after flying non-stop for nearly 20 hours.

Agadir (Morocco), March 26 (IANS) Sharmila Nicollet carded a steady one-over 72 in the weather-hit Lalla Meryem Golf Cup to end the week at tied 37th place.

Agadir (Morocco), March 24 (IANS) India's Sharmila Nicollet made her first cut of the season on the Ladies European Tour as she carded a second round 71 after a tough 75 in first round at the Lalla Meryem Cup here Saturday.

Maputo, Feb 17 (IANS) India has made $250 million available to finance a power project in Maputo region in southern Mozambique, the Mozambique News Agency (AIM) said Sunday.

Maputo, Jan 13 (IANS) Wildlife authorities in Mozambique have killed 13 crocodiles in an effort to stop what they termed "animal-human conflict", Xinhua reported.

Maputo, Nov 4 (IANS) Two Indian warships have docked in the Mozambican capital as part of a goodwill visit.

Maputo (Mozambique), March 7 (IANS) An Indian university has tied up with a university in Mozambique to help provide "global career opportunities for students".

Porto Alegre, Feb 4 (IANS) Striker Diego Forlan fine-tuned his preparation for Uruguay's friendly against Spain slated Wednesday by scoring in Internacional's 2-1 victory over Gremio in Brazil's Campeonato Gaucho.

Porto Alegre (Brazil), Jan 31 (IANS) Brazilian club Gremio qualified for the group phase of the Copa Libertadores with a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Ecuador's Liga de Quito at Arena do Gremio.

Porto Alegre, Jan 3 (IANS) Internacional and Brazil striker Leandro Damiao is a target for English football club Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports in England.

Porto Alegre (Brazil), Dec 21 (IANS) The Beira-Rio stadium here, home of Brazilian club Internacional, secured a 271.5 million reals loan for reformation works.

Victoria, Dec 13 (IANS) A US drone Tuesday crashed at the Seychelles International Airport after the aircraft developed engine problems, an official said.

Freetown, Oct 3 (IANS) More than 300,000 Sierra Leone children are critically malnourished, an official said here.

Abu Dhabi, Feb 19 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will invest $2 billion in India's infrastructure projects and support the establishment of a strategic oil reserve in the country.

Abu Dhabi, Feb 17 (IANS) The biennial International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) startED here Sunday, WITH a special focus on naval defenCe and unmanned aerial systems.

Abu Dhabi, Feb 17 (IANS/WAM) Anti-narcotics agencies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia have agreed to maintain a round the clock channel for sharing information and enhancing joint coordination to combat drug trafficking.

Abu Dhabi, Feb 16 (IANS/WAM) Officials from the UAE have met their counterparts from Germany, Japan and South Africa to discuss ways to promote relations.

Tunis, Feb 7 (IANS/EFE) Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali promised Wednesday to form a new government of independent technocrats whose mission will be to prepare for elections in the shortest possible time.

Tunis, Nov 10 (IANS) For the first time in two years, the Rades Olympic Stadium will witness a huge turnout as 35,000 spectators will attend the second leg of the African Champions League football final between Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Egypt's Ahly Nov 17 in Rades near Tunis.

Tunis/Tripoli, June 25 (IANS) Libya's ex-prime minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi, who served under slain leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been extradited from Tunisia to his native country, state-run TAP press agency reported.

Noida, Oct 14 (IANS) With rose petals, prayers and thousands of people looking on, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday inaugurated a Rs.684 crore park dedicated to the Dalit cause in this satellite town adjoining the national capital.

Lusaka (Zambia), March 22 (IANS) Football authorities in Zambia said Thursday they will convene a meeting to review the current medical system for players following the collapse of Bolton Wanderers' Frabrice Muamba after suffering a cardiac arrest at the weekend.

Lusaka (Zambia), Feb 16 (IANS) Zambia, the 2012 African champions, have shot up from 16th to fourth position in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rankings as they also break into the top 50 in the world for the first time in 11 years after winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

Lusaka (Zambia), Feb 3 (IANS) The Zambian government has warned its footballers currently participating in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that it will not tolerate any more indiscipline at the on-going tournament.

Lusaka (Zambia), Jan 6 (IANS) Zambia's head football coach says his team is not afraid of Senegal's deadly striker Demba Ba, who has been in top form while playing for Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

Banjul, Oct 18 (IANS) Africa would establish its own internet exchange point in Gambia to avoid costly fees paid to overseas service providers, said an African Union (AU) internet expert Wednesday.

Banjul, Aug 28 (IANS) Gambia has confirmed that nine prisoners being held on death row have been executed after the country's president vowed to carry out all death sentences by mid-September to curb crimes and terrorism looming as a threat to the west African nation.

Lagos, June 6 (IANS) The Nigerian government has suspended the operations of Indian-owned Dana Air, whose aircraft carrying 153 people crashed into a two-storey building in southwestern Lagos State Sunday killing all on board and another 40 on the ground.

Lagos, April 26 (IANS) At least 37 people were killed and 100 others injured Thursday when a powerful explosion hit the office of Thisday daily, a leading Nigerian national newspaper, in the capital city Abuja. A second office was bombed in Kaduna state.

Lagos, April 26 (IANS) At least 37 people were killed and 100 others injured Thursday when suicide bombers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the office of This Day daily, a leading Nigerian newspaper, in the capital city Abuja. A second office was bombed in Kaduna state in which three people died.

Lagos, March 16 (IANS) India and the oil-rich Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, have firmed up a Track II dialogue and unveiled new initiatives towards a strategic partnership that includes a joint academic project between leading think tanks of the two countries and joint defence production.

Bujumbura (Burundi), Nov 17 (IANS) Germany will send an expert in football to train Burundian players, the Burundian government said here after the signing of an agreement with Germany.

Abuja, Feb 21 (IANS) At least three people were killed and two injured in a suicide bomb attack Wednesday in Nigeria's Maiduguri city, Xinhua reported. The dead included the suicide bomber.

Abuja (Nigeria), Feb 14 (IANS) The Nigerian House of Representatives called on the government to provide adequate funding for football and sports in general.

Abuja (Nigeria), Feb 13 (IANS) Nigeria's victorious football team was splashed with national honours, including plots of land and cash for winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Abuja, Feb 13 (IANS) The Nigerian Senate in Abuja gave the victorious national football team a standing ovation and congratulated them for making the country proud by winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).