Why opposition protests are a turning point in Pakistani politics

The Friday rally openly targeted the military, with former PM Sharif accusing incumbent army chief Bajwa of interfering in politics. Such direct criticism against the powerful generals was unthinkable a few years ago.

He's an illustrator, film director and visual storyteller but Woodkid is best known for his haunting musical style, with tracks like "Iron" and "Run Boy Run" establishing him as an intriguing new voice nearly a decade ago. This architect of audiovisual art experiments went on to provide creative services for Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey before returning to personal projects in 2016.

The trial of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is so important, partly due to his superstar status here in France. So says Bruno Cautrès, a researcher at CEVIPOF, the political research centre at Sciences Po University in Paris. Sarkozy is set to make history as the first ever former French president to face corruption charges. The 65-year-old is still idolised by many on the right and continues to claims he's being persecuted as he faces a number of different legal cases against him.

Early results of Uganda's presidential elections indicate a victory for incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who has won 65% of votes counted so far. Counting is still ongoing and full results are expected by the afternoon of Saturday 16 January 2021.

Brazil's former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva makes his return to politics attacking President Jair Bolsonaro, giving a scathing take-down of the incumbent's management of the economy and signature policies. Lula, who led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, has emerged as a top contender to unseat Bolsonaro, after a judge annulled the popular but tarnished leftist's corruption convictions, reinstating his right to run for office.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for an increase in the number of women joining politics, as his government faces yet another allegation of sexual misconduct.

Somalia's lower house of parliament has voted to extend the president’s mandate for two years. The speaker of the Senate, which would usually approve the legislation, immediately slammed the move as unconstitutional. This comes as Somalia's political scene has been in deadlock for months over the holding of elections. Also, the African Union urges the continent to boost its vaccine production efforts as richer regions are accused of hoarding Covid-19 inoculations. And in Tunisia, protesters continue to demonstrate against the dumping of waste from Italy on Tunisian land.

In 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday', director Lee Daniels focuses on a period of Holiday's life that was marred by government persecution. The blues singer persisted in performing protest song "Strange Fruit", a wrenching description of the racist and murderous practice of lynching. Her act of resistance attracted unwanted attention from the authorities. FRANCE 24's film critic Lisa Nesselson tells us how the biopic argues for Holiday's rightful place as a civil rights activist as well as a gifted entertainer.

The CCP was founded in 1921, and this week, top party brass are touting their achievements with big public relations campaigns. But as the party bolsters its image, is there weakness behind the facade?

The assassination of President Moise tops off a crisis that has been smoldering in the Caribbean state for years. Politicians and organized crime gangs are equally responsible for Haiti's problems.

The shocking image of a violently ill Alexander Litvinenko as he lay dying from radioactive poisoning in a London hospital bed is how much of the world remembers the ex Russian spy. But a new opera in London based on a book by his wife Marina and composed by former London financier, Anthony Bolton seeks to tell more of his story. A British public inquiry in 2016 concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "probably approved" Litvinenko's killing, which it said was likely to have been FSB-directed, but no one has ever been brought to justice.

Carrie Lam has warned the territory's top legal bodies that ties will be cut if they pursue political paths. Civic and legal organizations are facing increased political pressure.