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UK call to aid Malawi's economyThe UK asks other donors to help Malawi's new government, which has devalued the currency as demanded by the IMF.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 12:11
Boxer Pacquiao's deals 'safe', despite gay row
A row sparked by boxer Manny Pacquiao's comments on gay marriage has damaged the world champion, but has not so far affected any of his mega-buck endorsement deals, his spokeswoman said Friday.
Pacquiao told a US website this week he was opposed to same-sex unions, in an article that erroneously suggested the Philippine superstar had quoted a biblical passage calling for gays to be put to death.
france24.com | 18-May-2012 12:05
Newcastle sign Scotland scrum-half Lawson
Newcastle Falcons on Friday signed Scotland scrum-half Lawson from Premiership club Gloucester.
Lawson, 31, has agreed a two-year contract and becomes Newcastle's third key signing in the last few days following locks Carlo Del Fava and Scott MacLeod.
Lawson has won 30 Scotland caps, making his debut against Australia in 2006 and has been part of two World Cup campaigns. He has also captained his country.
"I am really looking forward to joining up with the Falcons this summer," Lawson said.
france24.com | 18-May-2012 12:05
Syria-wide protests urged as Qaeda fears grows
Anti-regime activists have called for Syria-wide protests on Friday in support of students in Aleppo, a day after thousands of them rallied, emboldened by the presence of UN truce observers.
Growing suspicions of an Al-Qaeda presence in Syria, meanwhile, further complicated matters for the fragmented opposition, which has repeatedly refuted any links to the Islamist organisation.
france24.com | 18-May-2012 12:05
Md. town extends hand to G-8 demonstrators
Ethiopian expatriates, unmanned drone replicas and an anti-nuclear Buddhist monk are heading to the Maryland mountain town of Thurmont in hopes of influencing world leaders at a global economic summit at nearby Camp David on Friday and Saturday.They'll join dozens, and perhaps hundreds, of demonstrators from East Coast occupy movements who plan to ... (more)
Topix.net | 18-May-2012 11:59
ANC to sue over painting of Zuma
A painting showing President Jacob Zuma with his genitals hanging out sparks the anger of South Africa's ANC, which says it will go to court.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 11:52
Queen's monarch lunch criticised
Swaziland's King Mswati III is among controversial monarchs expected at a Diamond Jubilee lunch hosted by The Queen later.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 11:45
New boss must boost league form: Anfield exec
Liverpool's new manager must deliver improved performances in the Premier League to safeguard his future, according to Anfield managing director Ian Ayre.
Reds owners Fenway Sports Group have begun their search for a new boss after sacking Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday following Liverpool's worst league campaign for 18 years.
france24.com | 18-May-2012 11:45
Two NATO troops killed in Afghan attack
Two NATO soldiers were killed and six others wounded in a rocket attack on their base in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar Friday, an Afghan official with NATO forces said.
"Two ISAF soldiers were killed and six others injured in a Taliban rocket attack on an ISAF base in Nari ditrict today," a local spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
Two other local officials confirmed the account, while the ISAF press office in Kabul said that "two service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan".
france24.com | 18-May-2012 11:25
WhatsApp tops UK app charts: Apple
The WhatsApp messenging system, which allows users to send messages for free, has topped Apple's App Store Official UK charts.
WhatsApp Messenger held off Pandemic 2.5 - a game in which players aim to spread a disease across the world - leaving it in second place.
The leading app, from WhatsApp Inc, allows cross-platform mobile messaging that lets people exchange messages without having to pay for SMS.
Third place on the iPhone paid-for charts went to Angry Birds Space by Rovio Mobile Ltd, a puzzle game based on the successful Angry Birds game series.
france24.com | 18-May-2012 11:25
VIDEO: Africa Beats: Vieux Farka Toure
As part of a series showcasing Africa's musical talent, Malian singer Vieux Farka Toure performs his song Amana Quai.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 11:24
Nigerian armed robber accidentally blows up own bus
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - A suspected armed robber was killed when explosives his gang was transporting accidentally went off in the centre of Nigeria's main oil city of Port Harcourt on Thursday, police said.
Topix.net | 18-May-2012 08:49
Polls give few clues to Egypt vote
Contradictory opinion polls give few clues on Egypt's election
BBC News | 18-May-2012 08:22
Libya still ruled by the gun
Filming a new Channel 4 documentary, Peter Oborne and Richard Cookson find post-Gaddafi Libya at the mercy of rival militias
telegraph.co.uk | 18-May-2012 08:00
Officials went to missing AZ girl's home last year
Crews assessed damage on a U.S. Navy assault ship and a refueling tanker that collided in the Pacific Ocean off California, after the steering apparently went out on one of the vessels, the military said.
Topix.net | 18-May-2012 04:45
Mbeki to pressure Sudan on talks
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki arrives in Sudan to try to restart talks between Sudan and South Sudan after heavy fighting last month.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 04:40
Bracing for a Massive Influx of Returnees
In the wake of border tensions the United Nations is airlifting 12,000 southerners from a Sudanese frontier town into South Sudan. But they are returning home in the midst of an economic crisis that has the U.N. warning it may appeal for more funding to scale up humanitarian operations.
IspNews.net | 18-May-2012 03:39
US Congressional Panel Examines International Human Rights Violations
CAPITOL HILL - The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a hearing Thursday on threats and restrictions faced by civil society and human rights defenders around the world. The hearing focused on laws recently enacted and pending legislation in countries such as Ethiopia that are limiting the ability of nongovernmental organizations to operate freely and independently. One of the co-chairmen of the bipartisan commission, Democratic Representative James McGovern of Massachusetts, ...
voanews.com | 18-May-2012 01:56
Niger malnutrition crisis growing
Months of warnings have failed to stop a major malnutrition crisis in Niger, affecting more than six million people, Save the Children says.
BBC News | 18-May-2012 01:00
Autism "Relegated to the Sidelines"
At first glance Nortey Quaynor looks like any ordinary 29-year-old Ghanaian. If you spend a little time with him, though, you soon realise that something is different.
IspNews.net | 18-May-2012 00:56
UN Security Council demands Sudan withdraw from disputed region
UNITED NATIONS: The U.N. Security Council demanded on Thursday that Sudan immediately and unconditionally withdraw troops from the disputed Abyei border region but Khartoum pledged only to do so after a joint military observer body was created for the area.
Topix.net | 18-May-2012 00:30
Algeria Elections Look Good Abroad, Bad At Home
Algeria overturned the Arab Spring's revolutionary narrative with elections that bolstered the longtime ruling party and dashed Islamists' hopes of gaining power.
Topix.net | 18-May-2012 00:30
US rapper tweets from hospital, with cuddly toys
US rap star 50 Cent tweeted Thursday that is recovering in hospital and posted a picture of himself with an array of cuddly toys -- although some questioned whether it was all a publicity stunt.
The rapper posted a string of messages on Twitter starting Wednesday with photos of himself in bed, after being hospitalized with what a friend, DJ Drama, told XXLMag.com was a stomach bug.
"I don't want to go into surgery," he said in one of the first tweets, showing him lying down and looking sleepy, adding "@FloydMayweather call my phone why your phone off."
france24.com | 18-May-2012 00:05
Moody's downgrades 16 Spanish banks
Moody's on Thursday cut the debt ratings of 16 Spanish banks by one to three notches, citing the effects of the ongoing recession and the reduced creditworthiness of the Spanish government.
The action hit the leading bank, Santander, with a three-notch downgrade to A3, and the number-two bank, BBVA, was lowered by three steps to A3.
Two other large banks, Banesto and CaixaBank, were also cut to A3.
Moody's cited "renewed recession, the ongoing real-estate crisis and persistent high levels of unemployment" as key to the ratings reduction.
france24.com | 17-May-2012 23:45
Chinese 'Mystery' opens Cannes sidebar race
A Chinese thriller about a family man leading a double life kicked off the parallel new talent section of the Cannes Film Festival Thursday, in presence of director Lou Ye and his cast.
British director Tim Roth heads the jury for this year's "Un Certain Regard" competition, with new work from 17 up-and-coming directors including David Cronenberg's son Brandon, and fellow Canadian Xavier Dolan who is just 23.
france24.com | 17-May-2012 23:25
NASA says competition is key to private space race
Competition is vital to the race among private companies to replace the space shuttle, NASA said Thursday, after Congress called for the US space agency to fund a single company.
"We believe that competition is key to accelerating this program," said NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver in a conference call with reporters.
"We are ushering in a new era that embraces the innovation of the private sector along with the importance of what we do here in the government."
france24.com | 17-May-2012 22:45
US stocks lose over 1% on Europe fears
US stocks closed with losses well above one percent Thursday as negative news continued from Europe, with Greece's woes deepening and Spain falling into recession.
Strong quarterly earnings from Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, were not enough to shatter the gloom on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 157.50 points, or 1.25 percent, to 12,441.05 in closing trade.
The S&P 500-stock index dropped 19.92 (1.50 percent) to 1,304.88, while the tech-rich Nasdaq plummeted 60.35 (2.10 percent) to 2,813.69.
france24.com | 17-May-2012 22:25
Paris 'Crazy Horse' dancers back in saddle after strike
Patrons at Paris's "Crazy Horse" breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday as topless dancers got back on stage following the first-ever strike over pay at the famed cabaret.
The club's 18 dancers got back down to business of baring it after management agreed to their demands of a 15-percent salary increase and better recognition of their hard work, one of the bar's owners, Philippe Lhomme, told AFP.
He did not provide details on what the better recognition would entail.
france24.com | 17-May-2012 22:05
Press Advocates: Obama Should Talk Freedom at G8
Press freedom advocates are calling for President Barack Obama to address limitations on journalists who report on food insecurity when he meets with four African leaders at the G8 Summit on Saturday. The group is set to discuss solutions to food crises on the continent. But Mohamed Keita, the Africa Advocacy Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said government censorship is part of the problem. “We believe that such practices harm the domestic and international ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 21:38
Zimbabwe Finance Minister Says No Money for Polls
HARARE - Zimbabwe's finance minister has ruled out holding elections this year, saying the troubled nation does not have enough money to fund the polls. He blamed the problem on diamond mining firms failing to pay the government its share of revenue. Addressing journalists in Harare, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said it was essential that the country’s precious stones help turn around the nation’s fortunes. As a result of diamond revenue not reaching the treasury, Biti ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 20:53
Ethiopian court says 11 will face terror charges
Ethiopia's federal court ruled Thursday that 11 people should face terror charges after prosecutors said they formed a cell with an al-Qaida-linked group from neighboring Somalia.
Topix.net | 17-May-2012 20:10
Oil Transit Fee Obstacle to Sudan Talks
South Sudan produces most of the oil in the two countries, but Sudan has the infrastructure to transport, refine, and export the oil.
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 20:04
African troops in Guinea-Bissau
The first wave of a West African peacekeeping force lands in Guinea-Bissau to try to bring stability after last month's military coup.
news.bbc.co.uk | 17-May-2012 19:58
Goalshy Bafana turn to Nomvethe
South Africa recall veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe for June's 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and Botswana.
BBC News | 17-May-2012 18:56
Trials of Politicians, Journalists Test Ethiopia's Anti-Terrorism Law
ADDIS ABABA - In Ethiopia, a series of high-profile trials is being closely watched as a test of recently-enacted anti-terrorism legislation. A three-judge federal panel is hearing the trials of as many as 150 people arrested on terrorism-related charges last year, including prominent politicians and journalists. Almost every week for the past few months, a small group of journalists and diplomats has gathered at Addis Ababa's Lideta federal court complex to ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 18:44
African Jihadist Group Threatens To Kill Spanish Hostage
DAKAR - An extremist group in West Africa is reportedly threatening to kill a Spanish hostage seized in western Algeria last October. The group is believed to have split from al-Qaida's North Africa branch last year with the aim of spreading jihad further south beyond the Sahara. The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, referred to by its acronym MOJWA, emerged on the Sahelian terrorist scene in late 2011 after it kidnapped two Spanish aid workers and one Italian ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 18:36
SA 'fails pupils on textbooks'
The South African government's failure to provide textbooks to all state school pupils violates the constitution, the high court rules.
news.bbc.co.uk | 17-May-2012 18:30
South Sudan: SPLA Soldiers Hold Frontline Position
South Sudanese troops at standstill as they await talks on UN Security Council resolution; commanders awaiting orders on next move
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 18:30
Possible Talks between Nigerian Government, Boko Haram
ABUJA - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan appears to be once again preparing to negotiate with the militant group Boko Haram, after a man claiming to be a spokesperson for the Islamist group called for renewed talks. Many people in Nigeria have expressed anger and frustration with the government’s failure to stop the relentless deadly attacks blamed on the militant group known as Boko Haram. Some now say it is time to find out what Boko Haram wants and negotiate. ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 17:12
DR CONGO: Rwandan rebels kill at least 50 civilians in DR Congo
Rebels fighters from the FDLR, or the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, have killed at least 50 civilians since the start of May in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN said Wednesday.
france24.com | 17-May-2012 16:56
G8 Summit to Focus on Africa Food Security
STATE DEPARTMENT - As host of this week's summit of the world's Group of Eight leading industrial nations (G8), President Barack Obama has put African food security on the agenda. Food security remains a recurring problem across Africa, despite hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid each year. The Horn of Africa endured a severe drought last year that turned to famine in Somalia, and several countries in West Africa are now going through a food shortage that aid ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 16:08
Iran Shipping Arms To Syria
A confidential U.N. report reveals Iran is exporting arms to the Syrian government in violation of a ban on weapons sales, the same day President Bashar al-Assad blamed the violence in his country on the work of foreign-backed fighters.
Topix.net | 17-May-2012 16:06
Nigeria axe Premier League stars
Nigeria overlook a trio of Premier League stars, including Chelsea's John Obi Mikel, for next month's World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.
BBC News | 17-May-2012 15:56
Hopes To Heal Economy Through Devaluation, Which Has Hit Poor Hard
As Malawi's poor struggle to afford food and other staple items since the 48 percent devaluation of the local currency against the dollar, economic commentators are optimistic that the move will provide an opportunity to boost the country's export market.
IspNews.net | 17-May-2012 15:31
G8 Leaders to Weigh Euro Crisis, Food Security
Global economic recovery and food security are expected to be major topics at this weekend’s G8 summit. Leaders will gather at a short, scaled-down version of their annual meeting at Camp David in Maryland. John Kirton, co-founder of the G8 Research Group, said the summit may be brief, but also significant. “The G7 leaders, together with Dmitry Medvedev from Russia, will be meeting to deal with the latest eruption of the Euro crisis coming out of the elections in Greece and of ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 15:18
Aboul Fotouh Courts Egypt's Broad Political Base
CAIRO - Islamist Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh is being touted as a frontrunner in next week's presidential election in Egypt. It will be the first presidential vote since Hosni Mubarak was forced from office last year. Aboul Fotouh was a longtime Muslim Brotherhood member who broke with the group to run his independent campaign. He has done what few Egyptians thought possible, by projecting a calm and unifying presence during a tense and polarized time. A ...
voanews.com | 17-May-2012 15:16