Niger is better known for its poverty, not fashion. But out of this dusty and arid nation has emerged a man as colourful as his creations, Alphadi.

The UN has ordered more troops to Côte d’Ivoire as African leaders admitted they had failed to get Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power.

The fatigue shows in his eyes and his jittery legs betray his nerves: Mohamed sits in a Swedish cafe six weeks after fleeing the bombs and death threats that have become a part…

As the wounds of Swedes, traumatised by the Asian tsunami that cost them more lives than any other Western nation, slowly heal, many feel they will have special links with…