Ramaphosa sworn in as South Africa’s president
Trade unionist-turned-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa’s president on Saturday, vowing to create jobs and tackle deep-rooted corruption that has strangled economic
Africa
Ireland bans US preacher who called for gay executions
An American pastor who said governments should execute gay people and welcomed a shooting at a gay nightclub has become the first person to be
French military frees hostages in Burkina Faso
French commandos rescued four foreign hostages including two French citizens from a militant group in Burkina Faso, France’s military said on Friday, adding that two
Dozens of migrants drown off Tunisia coast after leaving Libya
At least 65 migrants drowned on Friday when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Tunisian coast after they had left Libya hoping
French soldiers killed in rescue of hostages in Burkina Faso
Two French soldiers were killed in a night-time rescue of four foreign hostages including two French citizens from the clutches of a militant group described
Togo term limit law allows president 10 more years of rule
A change in Togo’s law voted through on Thursday would allow longstanding President Faure Gnassingbe to stay in power potentially until 2030, extending his family’s
UN to Malta: drop terrorism charges against migrants
The United Nations human rights office called on Malta on Tuesday to drop terrorism charges against three African teenage migrants arrested for hijacking a small
British soldier killed ‘by elephant’ in Malawi
A British soldier has been killed while taking part in counter poaching operations in Malawi, Britain’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. Guardsman Mathew Talbot, who
Bush fire guts four villages in South Sudan, kills 33
A bush fire fanned by gusty winds has gutted four villages in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal region, killing 33 people, the president’s spokesman
Nigerian police accused of abusing prostitution suspects
Nigerian police are investigating allegations that officers sexually assaulted women arrested in nightclub raids during a crackdown on prostitution. There has been widespread public outrage
Congo Ebola death toll to hit 1,000, new vaccine planned -WHO
By Stephanie Nebehay Congo’s Ebola epidemic is expected to continue spreading though the country’s east, where it has killed 1,000 since August and sparked mistrust
Six killed in church attack in northern Burkina Faso
Unidentified gunmen killed one pastor and five congregants in an attack on a Protestant church in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday, government spokesman Remy Fulgance Dandjinou said on
Cyclone kills one, leaves trail of destruction across Mozambique
Cyclone Kenneth killed at least one person and left a trail of destruction in northern Mozambique, destroying houses, ripping up trees and knocking out power, authorities
Ugandan mum struggles with 38 kids
Mariam Nabatanzi gave birth to twins a year after she was married off at the age of 12. Five more sets of twins followed –
No citizenship applications received from Libya, minister says
Cyprus has not received a request from Libya asking the government not to grant citizenship to four of its nationals, nor were any applications made,
Sudan’s flirtation with democracy doomed. The army will return
By Gwynne Dyer It’s moving fast now. For three months the protesters in Khartoum got nowhere with their demand that “the people want the fall of
Thirteen dead in South Africa after church wall collapses
Thirteen people were killed in a south-eastern province of South Africa during an Easter service after a church wall collapsed on them late on Thursday following
Giant predator fossil found in forgotten museum drawer
When Ohio University integrative biologist Nancy Stevens peered into a drawer in the wooden cabinets on the top floor of a Nairobi museum in 2010,
Thieves pinch rifles as Kenyan police watch football
The temptation to watch UEFA Champions League quarter-finals football on TV both featuring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo backfired for some Kenya policemen when thieves
Eastern Libya parliament head says forces will push Tripoli campaign
By Ayman al-Warfalli and Ahmed Elumami Eastern Libyan forces will pursue their advance on the capital Tripoli, the head of the eastern parliament in