NIGERIA
PERISCOPES THE WORLD
International News
November 30,
2007
UK teacher jailed over teddy row
A British teacher who allowed pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad is
jailed for 15 days in Sudan.
BBC
DR Congo child rape victim dies
The UN in DR Congo says an 11-month baby girl has died one day after
being raped, a man is in custody.
BBC
Ghana’s Ruling Party To Reveal Presidential
Aspirant List In Ghana, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will
today Friday announce a list of qualified presidential aspirants one
of whom would lead the party in next year’s general elections to
succeed President John Kufuor.
VoiceOfAmerica
British PM Brown Isolated as European,
African Leaders Plan Lisbon Summit Tensions between
Britain and Zimbabwe remain high before next month's Europe-Africa
summit in Lisbon, Portugal. VoiceOfAmerica
Zimbabwe 2008 Budget Boggles With Z$7.84
Quadrillion Estimated Spending Zimbabwean Finance Minister
Samuel Mumbengegwi presented his 2008 budget to parliament on
Thursday, optimistically a 4% expansion of the moribund economy with
inflation slowing to 1,987% from its current official level of 8,000%
- but failed to give a budget total which some estimated to be
quadrillions of Zimbabwean dollars. VoiceOfAmerica
Musharraf now a civilian president
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced Thursday that he will
end a state of emergency on December 16 ahead of upcoming elections --
a key demand by the United States and opposition leaders.
CNN
Manila hotel siege ends in surrender
Dramatically played out on live television, an opposition politician
and rebel military officers surrendered to government forces after
taking over a luxury hotel in Manila. "We're going out for the sake of
the safety of everybody," Philippines Sen. Antonio Trillanes said.
CNN
Halt
US aid, bin Laden urges Europe Osama bin Laden, the
leader of al-Qaeda, has called on Europeans to stop their political
leaders helping the US in the Afghan war.
Aljazeera
Rudd
to withdraw troops from Iraq
Australia's prime minister-elect has said that his country's 550
combat troops in Iraq will be withdrawn by the middle of next year.
Aljazeera
NGO Works to Improve Muslim Education in Nigeria The National
Council for the Welfare of Destitutes in Nigeria says there are about
seven million child and teen-age beggers -- or Almajrai, in the north
of the country. Kano State accounts for more than a million. VoiceOfAmerica
Nigeria Seeks to Tap into Huge Natural Gas Reserves Nigeria plans to
reform its gas sector by introducing new pricing rules and providing
infrastructure to improve supplies to the domestic market. VoiceOfAmerica
Zimbabwe President Mugabe Says Will Welcome
Dialogue With Britain
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe says he is not ruling out having a
dialogue with Britain to resolve the political standoff between the
two countries.
VoiceOfAmerica
Senegalese President Fails In Quixotic Bid To Reconcile Mugabe and
Brown Senegalese President
Abdoulaye Wade arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday on what some
saw as a futile mission of trying to bridge the diplomatic gap between
Zimbabwe and Britain ahead of December's European Union-African Union
summit.
VoiceOfAmerica
Tuareg Rebels Gathering Strength in Niger In Niger, the government and Tuareg rebels are
gathering their forces for more battles in the coming weeks and
months. At the heart of the conflict is the distribution of revenue
from the mining sector, especially uranium.VoiceOfAmerica
Nigeria to review privatisations
Nigeria's government has agreed to review all privatisation deals
approved by the former president.
BBC
Teacher charged over teddy row
A British teacher is charged in Sudan with insulting religion and
inciting hatred, the UK Foreign Office confirms.
BBC
Outcry at Tanzania HIV beating
There is an outcry in Tanzania after a woman was beaten by her husband
for taking an HIV test.
BBC
Chavez cuts all ties with Colombia
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday he is cutting all ties
with Colombia as long as Alvaro Uribe remains its president.
CNN
Musharraf steps down as army chief
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf stepped down as the country's
military leader Wednesday, the day before he was to be sworn in for a
third presidential term -- as a civilian.
CNN
Bush
pledges support for peace push
The US president has told the Israeli and Palestinian leaders that he
is committed to supporting their efforts towards a peace deal.Aljazeera
Chavez escalates Colombia crisis Hugo Chavez has
broken off diplomatic ties with Colombia following a row over
mediation talks with left-wing rebels. Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 28,
2007
PM to boycott talks over Mugabe
Gordon Brown says he will not go to an EU-Africa summit after Robert
Mugabe confirms he will attend.
BBC
Comeback kid
Zuma scrambles from political scrapheap to verge of ANC top job
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is now the clear favourite to become the
next leader of the African National Congress, after receiving more
nominations than any other candidate.
BBC
Kenyan Muslims deny Sharia claims
Kenya Muslim leaders dismiss charges that they signed a deal with an
opposition party for Sharia to be introduced.
BBC
Ivory Coast President, Prime Minister Talk Ahead of Rebel Areas Visit Ivory Coast
President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leader-turned-Prime Minister
Guillaume Soro have met in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou as part
of efforts to reunite their divided country.
VoiceOfAmerica
Comoros Islands’ Political Impasse Deepens The political impasse between the Comoros Islands’
union government and embattled Anjoaun President Mohamed Bacar has
taken a dramatic turn after the union government turned down Bacar’s
demand Tuesday for dialogue to end the political crisis.
VoiceOfAmerica
Venezuela recalls Colombia envoy
President Hugo Chavez's government called its ambassador back to
Caracas for talks.
CNN
Sudan arrests teacher for teddy bear
blasphemy
Sudan has arrested a British teacher for insulting faith and religion,
the British Foreign Office said Monday.
CNN
Middle
East peace deal 'by 2008'
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to re-start negotiations
to reach a comprehensive peace deal by the end of 2008.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 27,
2007
Nigeria’s Former Speaker to Face Corruption
Commission
The controversy surrounding the former speaker of Nigeria’s House of
Representatives has taken another dramatic turn.
VoiceOfAmerica
Northern Nigerian State to Improve Tourism In northern Nigeria, the town of Kano was once one
of the best tourist and cultural centers. In recent years the industry
has suffered, but the National Institute for Hotel and Tourism is
working hard to revive it.
VoiceOfAmerica
ANC Women’s League Endorses South Africa
Ex-VP Zuma In South Africa, the quest for ex-deputy president
Jacob Zuma to become leader of the ruling African National Congress
party (ANC) received a significant boost Monday after the influential
Women’s League endorsed his candidacy.
VoiceOfAmerica
Chad fighting shatters ceasefire
Heavy fighting in eastern Chad between rebels and government forces
ends a month-long ceasefire.
BBC
'Hundreds dead' in Chad fighting
Chad's army and a rebel group both claimed to have killed hundreds of
fighters on the opposing side in fighting Monday in the country's
east, an area in turmoil from domestic unrest as well as spillover
conflict from the neighboring Darfur region in Sudan.
CNN
Sudan
to sue 'orphan' charity The
Sudanese government is taking legal action against a French charity
that reportedly tried to fly 103 children from neighbouring Chad to
Europe last month, the country's interior minister has said.
Aljazeera
Chavez
sees no Uribe reconciliation
The Venezuelan president has dismissed the prospect of reconciling
with his Colombian counterpart after the leaders exchanged barbs over
Alvaro Uribe's dropping of Hugo Chavez from efforts to broker a deal
with leftist rebels for the release of hostages.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 26,
2007
Kenyan police 'killed thousands'
A Kenyan Human rights group accuses the police of killing more than
8,000 people in a sect crackdown.
BBC
Friend or foe?
How China's growing relationship with Africa shuts out the West
In the first of a series on China's new relationship with Africa, the
BBC's Adam Blenford looks at how their economic interests coincide.
BBC
Museveni's party
Why the Ugandan president is basking in the limelight
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been relishing every moment of
this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala.
BBC
South Africa’s EX-VP Takes Lead in Party
Provincial Elections
In South Africa, the latest provincial election results of the ruling
African National Congress (ANC) party show deputy president Jacob Zuma
taking a commanding lead over President Thabo Mbeki ahead of next
month’s elections to choose who leads the party.
VoiceOfAmerica
D.R. Congo Rebels Deny The Demise of Leader
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the National Congress for the
People’s Defense rebel group has denied that its leader, General
Laurent Nkunda is dead.
VoiceOfAmerica
Commonwealth Summit Ends in Kampala The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, known
as CHOGM, drew to a close, with statements by the leaders of a number
of Commonwealth countries.
VoiceOfAmerica
Bakassi Handover Faces New Obstacles There has been
mixed reaction in Nigeria to a senate vote declaring the handover of
oil-rich Bakassi to neighboring Cameroon illegal. From the Nigerian
capital, Abuja, Gilbert da Costa reports Nigerian residents displaced
by the handover are demanding more attention from the authorities.
VoiceOfAmerica
Pageant gets ugly
Puerto Rico's 2008 Miss Universe overcame several "pranks," including
having her makeup doctored
CNNAljazeera
Chavez-Uribe spat deepens
Hugo Chavez says he has put relations with Colombia "in a freezer",
accused its president of lying and warned that commercial ties could
be damaged. Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 25,
2007
Commonwealth issues climate plan
Commonwealth leaders release a non-binding plan on climate change at a
Uganda summit.
BBC
Darfur rebels spurn Chinese force
A Darfur rebel group says that China's peacekeepers should leave the
region as 135 Chinese engineers arrive.
BBC
South Africa Sends Representative to Middle
East Peace Conference
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will participate in
summit designed to find peaceful resolution to Israeli-Palestinian
conflict
VoiceOfAmerica
Chinese Peacekeepers Arrive in Darfur An advance team of Chinese engineers and medical
officers arrived in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region Saturday.
VoiceOfAmerica
New era for Australia
Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd promised changes in
environmental, education and workplace policies as new prime minister
after his Labor Party won the majority of seats in parliament.
CNN
Opposition wins Australian election
Kevin Rudd, Australia's principal opposition leader, has led his Labor
Party to an emphatic victory in the country's parliamentary election,
ending John Howard's 11-years as prime minister.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 24,
2007
Uganda summit marred by clashes
Clashes between protesters and police in the Ugandan capital, Kampala,
mar the Commonwealth summit.
BBC
Tanzania surgery error man dies
The Tanzanian man who had a knee operation when he had a tumour in his
brain, has died after finally having the operation he required.
BBC
Namibia's Political Landscape Hit by Seismic
Changes
Several senior leaders of ruling SWAPO party defect to form new
opposition party; longtime leader Sam Nujoma prepares to step down as
party president
VoiceOfAmerica
Commonwealth Summit Officially Opens in
Uganda Britain's Queen Elizabeth has officially opened the
three-day Commonwealth summit in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
VoiceOfAmerica
Former UN AIDS Envoy Says Numbers Down But
Fight Against Disease Still Urgent A former United
Nations Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis warns that
revised UNAIDS HIV statistics should not be seen as a signal that the
fight against the pandemic can be relaxed.
VoiceOfAmerica
Rebels, Congo army in fierce fighting
Explosions and machine-gun fire echoed through the hills of east Congo
on Friday, as government troops battled rebels for a third day
straight amid an ever- worsening humanitarian crisis.
CNN
Saudis
to attend Annapolis summit The foreign minister
of Saudi Arabia will attend a US-sponsored Middle East conference in
the American city of Annapolis.
Aljazeera
Key
election begins in Australia
Voting has begun in national elections in Australia with polls
predicting John Howard will fail in his attempt to win a fifth term as
prime minister.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 24,
2007
Five Nigerians on terror charges
Five suspected Islamic militants are charged in Nigeria with a plot to
attack government buildings.
BBC
Mbeki upbeat after Zimbabwe talks
South African President Mbeki "very confident" of a solution after
talks with Zimbabwe's president and opposition
BBC
Chogging along
The Commonwealth is still relevant, writes Paul Reynolds
The suspension of Pakistan from the councils of the Commonwealth
raises the question of the value of an organisation whose principles
of democratic values can be so easily cast aside.
BBC
Bromide linked to Angola illness
A mystery disease that has hit nearly 400 Angolans is associated with
high levels of bromide, UN experts say.
BBC
Nigeria’s Electoral Commission Criticized
Over Allegations
The controversy surrounding Nigeria’s presidential elections has taken
a dramatic turn after the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)
accused the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) of tampering
with documents of the April elections.
VoiceOfAmerica
Nigeria's Electoral Court Puts Presidential
Victory on Trial A special
electoral court in Nigeria is investigating charges of cheating in
April elections and could overturn the results in key votes.
VoiceOfAmerica
Commonwealth suspends Pakistan
Hours after Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf cleared the
final legal hurdle to being re-elected to a third five-year term, the
53-nation Commonwealth on Thursday suspended Pakistan from its group.
CNN
Pakistan ousted from Commonwealth
Pakistan has been suspended from membership of the Commonwealth after
it failed to meet the organisation's deadline to lift emergency rule.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 22,
2007
Nigeria probes Siemens bribery
A Nigerian anti-corruption agency has begun investigating former
ministers alleged to have taken bribes from the German telecoms firm,
Siemens.
BBC
'It was oppression'
Zimbabwean says Mugabe will never be worse than Ian Smith
Zimbabwean Richard Donald Munsaka, 53, told the BBC News website, via
telephone from his home in the north-western town of Hwange, how he
felt after hearing that the ex-Rhodesia leader Ian Smith had died.
BBC
Lisbon wants Mugabe to stay away
Portugal's foreign minister says Robert Mugabe should stay away from
December's EU-African summit.
BBC
Queen in Kampala for summit
Queen Elizabeth has arrived in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, ahead of
the Commonwealth heads of government meeting which gets under way on
Friday.
BBC
ECOWAS Court Defers Judgment in Case Against
Gambia Government The Community Court of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) has delayed its ruling in the case
against The Gambia government about the disappearance of Gambian
journalist Ebrima Manneh, a reporter with the pro-government Daily
Observer newspaper.
VoiceOfAmerica
Ghana’s President Kufuor Criticized Over
Graft Fight In Ghana, a parliament member of the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP) has described President John Kufuor’s fight
against corruption as purely cosmetic.
VoiceOfAmerica
UK teens guilty over Ghana drugs
Two British 16-year-old girls were convicted Wednesday of trying to
smuggle cocaine out of the West African country to Europe in laptop
bags, officials and lawyers said.
CNN
Chirac
faces corruption inquiry Jacques Chirac, the
former French president, is under formal investigation over
allegations he gave fake jobs to supporters while he was the mayor of
Paris.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 21,
2007
Nigerian doubts over Africom
The Nigerian government has said it would not allow its country to be
used as a base for the US-African military command, Africom.
BBC
Ex-Rhodesia leader Ian Smith dies
The former PM of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, whose government declared
independence from Britain, dies aged 88.
BBC
Israel signs Liberia diamond deal
Israel signs an agreement with Liberia to help search for diamonds in
the West African nation.
BBC
France 'let down' Chad aid staff
The head of a French charity facing child abduction charges in Chad
says his government "let down" his workers.
BBC
Ghanaian jailed for London bombs
The last of five would-be bombers to target London on 21 July 2005 has
been jailed for 33 years after admitting conspiracy to cause
explosions.
BBC
Nigeria Rejects Plans to Host US African
Military Command Nigeria has
rejected plans to host the U.S. African military command, or AFRICOM,
on the continent. The government's position was announced at the end
of President Umaru Yar'Adua's meeting with state governors and several
of the country's leading political figures. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa
reports from Abuja. VoiceOfAmerica
Uganda’s Opposition To Boycott Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting
Uganda’s opposition parties say they would not only boycott this
week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Kampala,
but also hold parallel activities to press home their displeasure over
the government’s refusal to address their concerns.
VoiceOfAmerica
Ghana’s VP Under Fire Over Alleged Ethnic
Sentiments Ghana’s vice president has come under increasing
criticism for allegedly playing the “ethnic card” in his ongoing
campaign to become the presidential candidate for the ruling New
Patriotic Party (NPP).
VoiceOfAmerica
Ex-Bush staffer: I misled media 'unknowingly'
Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan says top U.S.
administration officials -- including President George W. Bush and
Vice President Dick Cheney -- were involved in his "unknowingly"
passing along false information about the leak of a CIA operative's
identity.
CNN
US
confirms Annapolis summit
The United States has confirmed it will host a Middle East conference
on November 27 in Annapolis, Maryland.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 20,
2007
Nigerian President Vows to Punish Bribe
Takers Nigerian President
Umaru YarAdua says allegations by German telecommunications giant
Siemens that it paid bribes to some former Nigerian officials will be
investigated and legal action taken against anyone found guilty.
VoiceOfAmerica
Possible Leadership Crisis Threatens South
Africa’s Ruling Party Unity
In South Africa, the growing debate about who should lead the ruling
African National Congress party (ANC) is reportedly threatening to
plunge the party into crisis.
VoiceOfAmerica
Namibia's Former Foreign Minister Forms New
Party Namibia has a new opposition political party. It is
the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) launched over the weekend
by former foreign minister Hidipo Hamutenya.
VoiceOfAmerica
Gambia's Government Faces Judgment Day Before
ECOWAS Court The Community Court of Justice of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expected to rule Tuesday
in a case brought against The Gambia Government on behalf of
journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh.
VoiceOfAmerica
Niger raids leaves 'ghost town'
The whole population of a north Niger desert town has fled due to
insecurity, the deputy mayor says.
BBC
Ethiopia 'bombs' Ogaden villages
Ogaden rebels say Ethiopian helicopter gunships have bombed civilian
settlements, leaving many dead.
BBC
Zimbabwe to take mining stakes
Zimbabwe's government has published new legislation that would force
mining firms to transfer a majority shareholding to local owners.
BBC
Queen marks diamond anniversary
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh,
celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Monday with a service of
thanksgiving at London's Westminster Abbey.
CNN
Asean
cancels Gambari speech South-East Asian
leaders have bowed to Myanmar's demands that Ibrahim Gambari, the UN
special envoy, not be allowed to speak at their meeting. Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 19,
2007
Zimbabwe 'ready for UK invasion'
The Zimbabwe government accuses the UK of plotting to invade and stage
assassinations.
BBC
Inquiry call over Nigeria deaths
Activists call on Nigeria's government to open an inquiry into the
hundreds of people shot every year by police.
BBC
G20 in warning on world economy
Finance chiefs from the world's 20 biggest economies have warned of
rising risks to economic growth and inflation, at a meeting in South
Africa.
BBC
Nigeria, Cameroon Seek to Repair Ties After
Attack in Disputed Bakassi Representatives of
Nigeria and Cameroon say the recent killing of 21 Cameroonian soldiers
in the disputed Bakassi peninsula will not damage ties. Gilbert da
Costa in Abuja reports officials are pressing for a joint
investigation. VoiceOfAmerica
Former SPLM Rebels Unhappy With Sudan
President Bashir’s Rhetoric
Former rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) are
reportedly upset over what they claim to be inflammatory remarks by
President Omar Al Bashir over the weekend.
VoiceOfAmerica
Zimbabwe Government Accuses Britain of
Invasion Plot In
Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe’s government is accusing Britain of
plotting to invade the country and assassinate top members of the
ruling ZANU-PF party. The accusation follows on the heels of a recent
revelation by a confidant of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
who said there were discussions of possible British invasion of
Zimbabwe.
VoiceOfAmerica
Opec
pledges 'adequate' oil supply Opec members have
said they will provide "adequate, timely and sufficient" oil supplies
to the market while Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president,
pledged that his country would never use oil "as a weapon".
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 18,
2007
Peace Talks Between Sudanese Government,
Darfur Rebels Face Delays
AU envoy Salim Ahmed Salim says date of talks not as important as
simply getting talks re-started
VoiceOfAmerica
U.N. delivers chilling conclusion on climate
Climate change is real and is happening at an ever faster pace, a
United Nations scientific panel says in a hard-hitting report issued
Saturday on tackling global warming.
CNN
Congo militia releases 232 child soldiers
More than 200 children recruited to serve with militias in the
Democratic Republic of Congo have been released by the fighters and
are being returned to their families, an official for the U.N.
children's agency said Saturday.
CNN
U.S. envoy tells Musharraf to end emergency
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Sunday that he had
expressed to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf the United States'
displeasure with Pakistan's emergency rule and urged Musharraf to lift
the order and release all political detainees ahead of elections.
CNN
Chavez
warns US at Opec summit In his opening
address at a rare Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec)
summit in the Saudi capital, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president,
has warned the US over rising oil prices.
Aljazeera
Ahmadinejad boosts Bahrain ties Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
Iran's president, has sought to boost relations with Bahrain in a
visit to the country's capital Manama.
Aljazeera
Somali rebels attack peacekeepers
Insurgents target an African Union base in the Somali capital,
Mogadishu, with grenades and machine guns.
BBC
Tutu chides Church stance on gays
Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticises the Anglican Church and its
leadership for its attitudes to homosexuality
BBC
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 17,
2007
Darfur talks 'expect more delays'
Sudan's stalled Darfur peace talks may not restart this year because
of continued boycotts, a mediator says.
BBC
Uganda sets up red-light district
Special zones for sex workers are being set up in Uganda's capital
ahead of the Commonwealth summit.
BBC
Children released from DRC rebels
Unicef says 232 children have been freed from a rebel group in the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
BBC
Kenya Approves 9 Candidates for Presidential
Race
Election looks to be close contest between incumbent Mwai Kibaki,
Raila Odinga
VoiceOfAmerica
Hundreds of Women Rush to Be First Female
Soldiers in Senegalese Army In the largely
Muslim West African nation of Senegal, women have been excluded from
joining the army as foot soldiers. VoiceOfAmerica
Togo Politics Enters New Era Politicians in
Togo say the West African country has entered a new era, after
peaceful elections in which all political parties took part.
VoiceOfAmerica
Zimbabwe leader admits he used witch doctor
President Robert Mugabe has said ministers at a Cabinet meeting he
agreed to pay two head of cattle and three buffaloes to a woman who
claimed she could produce gasoline out of rocks, the official media
reported Friday.
CNN
Violence mars Kenya primaries Primary votes to
select candidates for upcoming elections in Kenya have been marred by
violent clashes among gangs and supporters of rival parties.
Aljazeera
Chavez
demands Spanish king apology
Venezuela's president, has called on Spain's king to apologise for
publicly rebuking him.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 16,
2007
Hundreds of Nigerian robbers shot
Nigeria's police chief says 785 suspected armed robbers have died in
police encounters in the last 90 days.
BBC
Delta militants deny Bakassi raid
Niger Delta militants blame the Nigerian army for killing 21
Cameroonian soldiers in the Bakassi peninsula on Tuesday.
BBC
SL leader pledges graft crackdown
Sierra Leone's new president pledges to fight corruption in front of
crowds at his official inauguration
BBC
Tribunal Chides Nigeria’s Electoral
Commission Over April Polls Some Nigerians have welcomed as good news the
Election Tribunal’s ruling Thursday chiding the Independent Electoral
Commission (INEC) for not organizing free, fair and credible elections
last April.
VoiceOfAmerica
Sierra Leone’s President Pledge’s to Weed Out
Graft
Sierra Leone, President Ernest Bai Koroma says he will do everything
in his power to weed out what he described as endemic corruption in
the country’s public institutions.
VoiceOfAmerica
Nigerian Police Kill 785 Suspected Armed
Robbers in Three Months Nigerian police
say they have killed 785 suspected armed robbers and lost 62 of their
own officers in the last three months. Human rights groups have
repeatedly accused Nigerian police and security forces of killing
robbery suspects instead of arresting them. VoiceOfAmerica
Stymied In Zimbabwean Courts, White Farmers
Seek Regional Recourse Having exhausted their legal
options in Zimbabwe, former white commercial farmers who lost property
to land redistribution are seeking recourse at a regional level.
VoiceOfAmerica
Cult awaits end of days after leader's arrest
Members of a Russian doomsday cult have barricaded themselves in a
cave to wait out the end of the world as the cult's leader underwent
psychiatric exams Thursday, Russian media reported.
CNN
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 15,
2007
Nigeria, Cameroon probe attack
Cameroon and Nigeria are now working together to find out who killed
21 Cameroonian soldiers in the Bakassi peninsula near their border on
Tuesday.
BBC
Ghanaian leader in car accident
Ghanaian President John Kufuor emerges from a car crash holding his
head, but aides say he appears fine.
BBC
US defends its cotton subsidies
A senior US official defends Washington's big subsidies to its cotton
farmers, on a trip to Burkina Faso.
BBC
Darfur mission 'may fail' says UN
The UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur could fail unless countries
provide vital equipment, a top official says.
BBC
Ghana President’s Accident Sparks Road Safety
Debate
In Ghana, an accident involving President John Kufuor’s car has
sparked an intense debate about safety on the country’s’ roads.
VoiceOfAmerica
African Union Holds Consultative Meeting on
Health Workers The World Health Organization says the most
critical issue facing healthcare systems worldwide is a shortage of
health workers. The WHO says 36 of the 57 countries where the shortage
is critical are in sub-Saharan Africa.
VoiceOfAmerica
Thousands homeless after Chile quake
Thousands of Chileans may have to sleep in the streets Wednesday night
after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the north part of the
country, killing at least two people, injuring dozens and destroying
hundreds of homes.
CNN
Musharraf to quit army in two weeks
Pakistan's president has said he expects to quit as chief of army by
the end of November and continue to rule as a civilian.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 14,
2007
Cameroonians Said to Be Bitter About Bakassi Killings
Cameroon's government says it has launched an investigation into the
killing of 21 of its citizens in the Bakassi Peninsular
VoiceOfAmerica
Nigeria’s EX-VP Calls for Elections Boycott Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is
calling for a boycott of the ongoing local government elections under
President Umaru Musa YarAdua’s administration.
VoiceOfAmerica
US, Nigeria Discuss Early Deployment of UN-AU Force in Darfur Top American and
Nigerian officials met to discuss speeding up the deployment of the
United Nations-African Union force in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.
For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports that Nigeria is expected to
provide more troops when the peace-keeping mission begins operations.
VoiceOfAmerica
Soldiers killed in Cameroon raid
More than 20 Cameroonian soldiers have been killed during fighting in
the Bakassi peninsula near the border with Nigeria, say Cameroon army
officials.
BBC
S Leone 'riddled with corruption'
Widespread corruption and mismanagement are revealed in a secret
presidential audit in Sierra Leone.
BBC
Tens of thousands flee Congo refugee camps
Tens of thousands of Congolese refugees fled camps Tuesday in the
Democratic Republic of Congo as rebel troops attacked government
forces in the area, the U.N. refugee agency said.
CNN
Gambari gives upbeat Myanmar report
The UN special envoy to Myanmar has given the security council an
upbeat report on his recent trip to the military-ruled country.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 13,
2007
IMF ready to cancel
Liberia debt
The IMF says it has sufficient funding pledged to provide Liberia with
comprehensive debt relief.
BBC
Poor S Africans double in
decade
The number of South Africans living on less than $1 a day has more
than doubled in a decade, a survey suggests.
BBC
Sahel - New Thresher
Relieves Rice Harvesting Burden In Africa’s Sahel
region, new technology is helping with the task of harvesting rice.
Experts say the difficult manual labor of threshing and cleaning the
grain is done mostly by women and can damage their health.
VoiceOfAmerica
At least seven killed at
Arafat rally
Fighting broke out between Hamas and Fatah gunmen Wednesday in Gaza
City, leaving at least seven people dead and 55 injured at a rally to
commemorate the third anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat's death, Palestinian and medical sources said.
CNN
Pakistan's Bhutto detained again
Pakistani police have put opposition leader Benazir Bhutto back under
house arrest, hours before she was to lead a protest rally from Lahore
to the capital, Islamabad.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 12,
2007
Nigeria's Pledge to
Increase Niger Delta Spending Elicits Skeptical Response The Nigerian
government plans to increase federal spending on the volatile Niger
Delta in 2008, in a bid to stem an insurgency that has curtailed
output in the oil-rich region. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports that
some of the region's powerful groups appear unimpressed. VoiceOfAmerica
Sudan’s Peace Talks Fail
to Reach Consensus
President Omar Al Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kirr of the
former rebel SPLM will meet again this week to resolve the political
impasse that is threatening to undermine the 2005 comprehensive peace
agreement, which ended the war.
VoiceOfAmerica
Talks fail to end Sudan
stand-off
A committee set up to resolve a stand-off between north and south
Sudan stops working after just days.
BBC
Uganda rebel deputy 'is
not dead'
Northern Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony has told mediators that his
deputy Vincent Otti is alive but under arrest.
BBC
U.S., Germany vow
diplomacy on Iran
U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel say
they will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear
program.
CNN
Chavez
hits back at Spanish king
Venezuela's president has struck back at Spain's king, who told him to
"shut up" at a leader's summit in Chile on Saturday.
Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 11,
2007
Ivory Coast Government
Dismisses Travel Warnings
Tourism ministry says although full reconciliation with rebels has yet
to occur, Ivory Coast is peaceful
VoiceOfAmerica
Congo's Child Soldiers
Face Tough Road to Recovery Tens of thousands
of children have been abducted and forced into service by a myriad of
armed groups in Congo's chaotic eastern provinces. Many of them are
Rwandan boys who were born in Congo following the genocide. VoiceOfAmerica
Chavez
'shut up' by Spanish king Spain's King Juan
Carlos told Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, to "shut up" on
Saturday during closing speeches by leaders at the Ibero-American
summit in Chile.
Aljazeera
Congo's pygmies turn to
technology Pygmies in the world's second largest
rainforest are turning to modern technology to preserve their lands.
Aljazeera
Ten to die over Sudan
beheading
Ten Darfuris face death by firing squad over last year's murder of
Sudan journalist Mohammed Taha
BBC
U.S. and Germany vow
diplomacy on Iran
U.S. President George W. Bush and visiting German Chancellor Angela
Merkel say they will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to
Iran's nuclear program.
CNN
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 10,
2007
Abuja outbid
Nigeria disappointment at Commonwealth Games loss The
majority of people in Abuja did not actually know that Friday was
crunch time for the Nigerian capital city's hopes of hosting the 2014
Commonwealth Games.
BBC
Chad frees 'kidnap' flight
crew
Three Spanish aircrew detained in Chad over an alleged plot to abduct
African children are released from jail.
BBC
Congo arrests after toxic
dumping
Six people have been arrested in DR Congo for allegedly dumping
radioactive minerals into a river, officials say.
BBC
Chadian Authorities
Release 4 More Europeans in Alleged Child Abduction Case
Flight crew members freed; 6 French members of charity Zoe's Ark
remain in Chadian custody as part of international adoption scandal
involving alleged kidnapping charges
VoiceOfAmerica
Chad frees Spaniards in
'kidnap' plot
A judge in Chad on Friday freed three Spanish flight crew members who
had been detained for allegedly plotting to kidnap African children
from the impoverished central African country, a senior Spanish
Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNN.
CNN
Chavez bemoans 'fascist
violence'
President Hugo Chavez condemned Venezuela's opposition on Friday for
resorting to "fascist violence" in protesting constitutional changes
that would greatly expand his power.
CNN
Niger's threatened nomads For thousands of years, the Tuareg
nomads of Niger in West Africa have roamed the Sahara desert,
surviving a harsh but relatively unchanging environment. Aljazeera
He who sabotages, makes a case
for similar fate!
November 09,
2007
Released American Peace
Activist Shocked by Her Arrest
