Muharram & Ashura in Africa: Shafaqna highlights how Muharram’s first ten days are marked across African countries with mourning rituals for Imam Hussain, including elegy recitations, chest-beating, Ta’ziyah passion plays, and community gatherings that often include feeding the poor and suspending work on key days. Kiswahili, culture, and tech: From Bujumbura to UNESCO in Paris, Kiswahili is being framed as a bridge for education, regional integration, diplomacy, and even AI-enabled learning—showing how language promotion is becoming a modern cultural project. Comoros Independence Day spotlight: Russia’s Putin sent congratulations to President Azali Assoumani for Comoros’ 51st anniversary, praising the country’s post-independence progress and its role in conflict resolution. Regional sports, local presence: Beach volleyball coverage notes Comoros participation in Zone 7 events, with Seychelles and Mauritius taking top honours—another reminder of how lifestyle and sport travel across the Indian Ocean. Visa rules affecting travel: Namibia’s updated visa-on-arrival list includes Comoros, while other African countries were excluded, shaping who can enter easily for short visits.