International report

In Liberia, former football star George Weah is beginning his third day in office after being sworn in as president on Monday. People are waiting to see how he plans to drive the country’s economy.

Rubber is a key commodity for Liberia, but a slump in world prices has made life difficult for farmers. Correspondent Lucinda Rouse went on the trail of farmers to learn about a new type of rubber processing that could be the answer.

George Weah is beginning his first week as President of Liberia after being sworn into office on Monday 22 January. With sky high unemployment and poverty rates, he has a busy time ahead to deliver the change his voters are expecting. Agriculture is considered a key sector to create jobs and help turn the country around. Correspondent Lucinda Rouse spoke to two entrepreneurs bringing innovative ways to modernise Liberia’s agriculture.

George Weah is the most successful African footballer in history and will be sworn in as Liberia’s next president on 22 January. But his beginnings were humble. Correspondent Lucinda Rouse visited the Monrovia slum where Weah was brought up. She met people who knew him before he was famous.

Liberia will have a new government on 22 January as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf hands over to George Weah. But this doesn’t put an end to seeing powerful women in Liberian politics.

Correspondent Lucinda Rouse spoke to the vice president-elect Jewel Howard Taylor and attended an appreciation event organised for her in Monrovia’s New Kru Town.

India’s top court has ruled couples cannot be killed for falling in love. It warned, judges will rule if the government failed to outlaw murders in the name of honor or religion.

India reported a 800-percent jump in such killings one year after rightwing Hindus came to power in 2014. Judges will hear today instances of public lynching.

Our correspondent Vikram Roy reports on the court’s eagerness to stop such attacks.

Once a year members of the Muslim Layene community in Senegal organise a collective wedding presided over by the religious leader.

The cost of getting married is dramatically reduced - with couples spending just a symbolic €20 for the dowry.

Afterwards, families may hold a small celebration amongst themselves.

It’s a contrast to traditional weddings in Senegal that can be a financial burden for families who save for years to be able to host hundreds of guests and family members.

Emmanuelle Landais went to the religious capital of the Layene brotherhood, the third largest in Senegal, on the outskirts of Dakar to witness 132 couples being married, at this year’s collective wedding.

In April 2014, the government of Cameroon placed a ban on the importation, production and sale of non-biodegradable plastics.Close to four years later, the government seems to be unable to implement it.

The banned products are still - very much in circulation - despite incessant sensitisation and repressive measures by the government. But locals in Bamenda say sustainable alternatives as promised by government are not available.Tebeck Alphonse has this report from Bamenda.

Turkey’s strained relationship with the US has taken a turn for the worse, following a New York court's decision last week to convict a Turkish banker over a massive plot to help Iran evade American sanctions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says it's a conspiracy to remove him from power.

With Erdogan also threatening military action against a key US ally in Syria, relations between the two NATO members could deteriorate further, as Ankara searches for alternative allies.

Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.

The cholera outbreak in Zambia's capital Lusaka has left traders stranded after the central business district was shut by the government. Dozens have died, and thousands of cases have been recorded. And now as correspondent Kathy Short reports, the capital’s economy is also being hurt.

The official language in Senegal is French, but there are another 21 national languages recognised. Many children arrive at school after speaking wolof, serréré or pulaar at home for years and have to suddenly start working in French.

But research shows that you learn better in your mother tongue and about 50 classrooms in Senegal are trying to let young students do exactly that.

Emmanuelle Landais has this report from Dakar.