Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said urgent action is needed to combat hunger amid rising food prices and the devastating impact of climate change in Niger and other areas of the troubled Sahel region.

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.

Islamabad has issued a warning to Afghanistan's Taliban leadership, accusing it of giving shelter to militants. In turn, the Taliban claim Pakistani bombings recently killed dozens of civilians on Afghan soil.

After years of political and financial crises, Lebanese people are now also in danger of going hungry. Germany has promised more food aid as imports from Ukraine and Russia dwindle.

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.

The number of people facing hunger rose to 193 million last year as conflict, climate change and economic crises ravaged people's livelihoods, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said Wednesday.

The hard-line Islamist group has told Afghan women to cover their faces in public — the latest backslide on promises to retain women's rights after the Taliban seized power last August.

The Taliban have further curbed women's rights with their latest veil compulsion decree. Afghanistan's civil society faces an uphill task to challenge the group without adequate support from the international community.

After more than two years of denying the virus had gained a foothold, Pyongyang is now struggling to handle thousands of suspected cases with limited medical capabilities.

North Korea on Sunday reported a total of 42 deaths from "fever" after admitting its first-ever COVID-19 cases days before. Lockdown policies have been implemented across the country, according to state-run media.

Rio Ferdinand fronting Amazon documentary series about race, mental health and sexuality in football Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand is reportedly working on a trio of documentaries for Amazon about race, mental health and sexuality in football.

The World Health Organization will open its annual health assembly, bringing together 194 member states in Geneva. Russia's attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine will be center stage during the meeting.