The co-founder of electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk, Florian Schneider, has died at the age of 73 from cancer, the managers of the group announced Wednesday. 

Poland's governing parties said on Wednesday they had agreed to postpone the country's May 10 presidential election after a failed attempt to hold it via a postal vote due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Poland's parliament on Thursday passed legislation paving the way for a presidential election delayed by the coronavirus pandemic to go ahead via a postal ballot, a move the opposition said jeopardised democracy.

How to lip read when everyone’s face is hidden behind a mask? That is the challenge facing deaf people across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic makes face masks a part of daily life. The answer could be transparent face masks but such masks are in short supply, leading some to make their own.

A continent devastated by the coronavirus will on Friday mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Victory in Europe (VE) day, as the economic destruction of the current global crisis was laid bare.

Germans feel "gratitude" for the Nazi defeat that ended World War II in Europe 75 years ago, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a landmark commemoration speech on Friday.

Ukraine locked down early and has a far lower rate of coronavirus infections than some countries in Western Europe, plus fewer than 400 deaths so far. Yet 20 percent of cases are among medical personnel – one of the worst rates in the world. By the health ministry's own admission, that's due to a severe shortage of protective equipment. The ministry says it's doing its best to correct the situation and buy the necessary protective suits and masks. Yet it has been reluctant to co-operate with the country's independent medical procurement agency, set up to prevent corruption in state purchases.

Personally I find Morse Code incredibly romantic. What could be sweeter then a love note fashioned out of code? I was excited when I stumbled upon this video by the amazing Robert Mahar showing you how to make a morse code necklace out of little beads, just fantastic! Be sure … Continue reading →

This is a very easy DIY if you are used to using a scroll saw. If you don’t own a scroll saw you could always mount these cats to some thick card stock or cardboard to make a festive thread holder instead. Print the vintage cat images, and mount them … Continue reading →

Spoonflower asked me to take part in their Handmade Holiday Blog Hop by creating a holiday project to share. Inspired by vintage holiday mail bags made of felt I created a cut and sew mail bag that you can use to either store all those holiday cards as they arrive, … Continue reading →

Africa’s biggest city, Lagos, returned to work on Monday at the end of a five-week coronavirus lockdown.

Last month, the president of Madagascar and the country’s Institute for Applied Research launched Covid-Organics (CVO), a drink derived from the artemisia plant they claim can treat and prevent Covid-19. Now other countries in the region are beginning to import the herbal remedy, despite a lack of scientific research to back up its billing as a miracle cure for the coronavirus.  

Boko Haram fighters clashed with government forces on Sunday in Diffa, the largest city in southwestern Niger, in what the jihadists said was a successful attack on a military camp.   

Supporters of Malawi's opposition took to the streets of Blantyre on Wednesday as their presidential candidate presented nomination papers for the July re-run of last year's election. The outcome initially returned President Peter Mutharika to office, but the result was historically overturned in a landmark court ruling in February. Meanwhile in Burkina Faso, a young man has created a digital school so that students can keep taking classes on their smartphones during the lockdown. And finally, South Africa turns to virtual tourism as national parks stream their safaris online.

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and RFI, the president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, discussed the Covid-19 pandemic in his country, as well as a controversial treatment developed in Madagascar that the Republic of Congo plans to use. He also talked about the economic consequences of the health crisis and asked for up to "$500 million" in aid from the IMF. Finally, he ruled out the release of two jailed political opponents, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, on health and humanitarian grounds.

We bring you a report from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is growing concern about the safety of prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak. More than 100 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Kinshasa's Ndolo military prison. The UN estimates that the country's main prisons are, on average, at 432% capacity. We speak to the Central Africa Director for Human Rights Watch for his take on the situation. 

Please accept this as an apology, of sorts.

Interview with Rani Baker, Goon Lurker and Internet Hero.

There we both were, opting to let the free market do what it does best — provide, devoid of scruples, even the most reprehensible and insane services to the extravagantly wealthy.