The vote was seen as a referendum on President Mohamad Muizzu's pledge to abandon the country's "India First" policy for closer ties with China. Electoral authorities reported a turnout higher than 73%.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Chairman of Access Holdings says the move by the group to raise $1.5 billion over five years reflects the financial institutions growth plans. Speaking with CNBC Africa's Kenneth Igbomor, Aig-Imoukhuede reiterates that the decision for a rights issue was in line with the role of its shareholders in the growth of the bank over the years.

South Africa is edging closer to a major healthcare overhaul with a bill that aims to provide universal coverage, but concerns are mounting over whether the struggling public system is ready to implement such an ambitious plan, healthcare workers, patients and business groups say.

Infusions, anti-aging creams or anti-stress drops made from cannabis are some of the food supplements that Morocco will begin to market imminently and that are already on display at the International Agriculture Exhibition (SIAM) inaugurated this Monday, after legalization of this plant in 2021 for pharmaceutical and industrial uses.

The central Mexican city of Celaya has become the scene of a brutal turf war between rival drug cartels. These criminal groups have taken advantage of its strategic position at the crossroads for transporting drugs into the United States. Kidnappings, shootouts with police and drive-by killings now occur on an almost daily basis in broad daylight. Nearly 500 people were killed in Celaya last year. The city's police officers (pictured) risk their lives every day and are forced to travel in armoured vehicles. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

The German government revised its economic growth forecast for 2024 marginally from 0.2% to 0.3%, Economy Minister Robert Habeck confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.