The taboo of menstruation in Madagascar, an obstacle to women’s emancipation

The mandate requires all employees in care homes, hospitals, doctors' offices and outpatient clinics to prove they are vaccinated against COVID-19. An emergency motion had attempted to delay its enforcement.

Kanye West opens up about mental health struggles and admits to having 'suicidal thoughts'

Africa has a very young population, but many young people don't see a clear path to leading a successful, independent life. This leads to a "ticking time bomb" of mental health problems, according to our guest. Tom Osborn is the co-founder and executive director of the Shamiri Institute in Kenya. He told us how he's helping young people and how his early life growing up in a poor rural area of the country inspired him to take this inspirational path.

Did you know that in Anglophone Cameroon, schoolkids don't wear uniforms? It's to avoid being identified by attackers. Also, they don't attend school on Mondays. Our teen reporter, 16-year-old Lum Precious, speaks with her peers in the first episode of GirlZOffMute from Cameroon. They appeal to President Paul Biya to act immediately so that kids no longer fear being attacked on their way to school

A Nigerian school is targeting students from poor families to give them a chance to excel at science, technology, engineering and mathematics for 100 naira (0.25 cents) fee a day, hoping they can hone skills that can help their families climb out of poverty. Faridat Bakare, an 12-year-old student has developed a solar-powered prototype car as she sets her eyes on becoming an engineer.

The island of Madagascar, just off the east coast of Africa, has been hit by five natural disasters in less than two months, including two major cyclones. More than 200 people have died and 460,000 have been left without shelter. The eastern city of Mananjary has been practically wiped off the map. The remaining 35,000 residents are trying to survive but many have no housing, electricity or clean drinking water. International aid agencies are helping keep them alive. Our correspondents visited what remains of the city.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said his announcement of scrapping obligatory isolation for people infected with COVID was a mistake and sent the wrong signal.

Ethiopian researchers are hoping that a local staple known as false banana could have some real benefits for food security. Enset is little known outside of the country but is nutritious and drought resistant. Also 9 ancient Libyan artifacts have been returned home after having been looted during 21st century conflicts and smuggled out to the US. And we hear from rising Matthew Eguavoen whose work translates complex, contemporary African experiences into vibrant and challenging portraits.

We hear from up-and-coming artist Matthew Eguavoen, whose work translates complex, contemporary African experiences into vibrant and challenging portraits. But first, Ethiopian researchers are hoping that a local staple known as false banana could have some real benefits for food security. Enset is little known outside of the country but is nutritious and drought resistant. Also, nine ancient Libyan artefacts have been returned home after having been looted during 21st century conflicts and smuggled out to the US.

In Madagascar's south crops regularly fail due to drought and land erosion. For farmers like Kazy Zanapijo pigeon peas, a staple crop in India, are an answer.

While the official threshold for a COVID wave has not yet been reached, South Africa is facing a surge of infections driven by omicron sub-variants.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Thursday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.⁣