Burkina Faso army maintains hold on power

Ouagadougou - The army officer who took power after the fall of Burkina Faso's president was Wednesday named prime minister, ensuring the military keeps a grip on government despite pressure for a civilian transition.

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida was appointed premier by the country's interim president three weeks after long-time leader Blaise Compaore fled the country under pressure from mass protests.

WHO: Ebola transmission 'intense' in Sierra Leone

Freetown - The World Health Organisation says the transmission of Ebola remains "intense" and widespread in Sierra Leone, even as some improvements are being seen in the two other countries worst hit by the crisis.

Nearly 200 new cases were confirmed in Sierra Leone's capital in a recent one-week period.

The WHO report released late on Wednesday indicated that Sierra Leone had the lowest percentage of Ebola patients who had been isolated — only 13%.

Coroner threatens TB Joshua for 2nd inquest no-show

Lagos - A coroner on Thursday said he would order the arrest of a Nigerian preacher after he again failed to appear to give evidence about a deadly building collapse at his Lagos megachurch.

Oyetade Komolafe was furious that TB Joshua was not in court for the start of the hearing, which is examining the circumstances of the 12 September tragedy in which 116 people were killed.

"So, TB Joshua is not in court, the [building] contractor is not in court. Any of the witnesses who is not in court today will be arrested," the coroner said.

TB Joshua challenges summons

Lagos - Lawyers for Nigerian preacher TB Joshua said on Thursday they had mounted a legal challenge against a coroner who has ordered him to testify about a fatal building collapse at his Lagos megachurch.

Joshua has been summonsed twice to give evidence at an inquest examining the circumstances of the 12 September tragedy in which 116 people were killed, but failed to appear on both occasions.

The latest no show by the popular televangelist on Thursday angered coroner Oyetade Komolafe, who said he would order his arrest.

Ramaphosa is in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Thursday to attend the second Africa-Turkey summit of heads of state and government, the presidency said.

Ramaphosa was representing President Jacob Zuma at the summit which was taking place on Thursday and Friday, his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement.