The World Bank has committed more than $500 million in rapid response aid to Horn of Africa drought victims. World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in a statement Monday it is important to “act fast to reduce human suffering.” The money will fund both short- and long-term projects in East African nations that include Ethiopia, […]
World Bank Commits $500 Million to Horn of Africa Drought
Posted July 25th, 2011 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
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UN Calls Emergency Drought Meeting
Posted July 25th, 2011 at 2:50 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations is holding an emergency meeting Monday to discuss ways to address the drought crisis in the famine-struck Horn of Africa, a day after Australia joined international calls for aid to the region. The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization says the meeting in Rome will include ministers and senior representatives of its member […]
Australia Adds to Pleas of Aid for Somalia
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 3:30 pm (UTC-5)
Australia has joined a growing international chorus of pleas for aid to the famine-struck Horn of Africa. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said failure by the international community to provide aid would mean the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Somalis, mostly children. Rudd was in Somalia to appeal to the world to help avoid […]
Sudan Launches New Currency
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Sudan’s central bank began circulating a new currency Sunday, less than a week after newly-independent South Sudan did the same. The new Sudanese pound is similar to the old one but the bills are different colors and have been stripped of symbols representing the south. The old Sudanese pound has plunged in value this year […]
Italian Tanker Hijacked Off West Africa
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have hijacked an Italian fuel tanker with 23 crew members on board. The Italian news agency ANSA reports that three pirates seized control of the RBD Anema e Core on Sunday. It says the ship was carrying a cargo of diesel fuel and that the ship’s crew consists of […]
ANC Youth Leader Accused of Having ‘Secret Fund’
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
A South African newspaper says the ruling party’s youth leader has a “secret fund” he is using to finance a lavish lifestyle. The City Press says Julius Malema is the sole trustee and main beneficiary of the “Ratanang Family Trust,” created in 2008 after Malema became head of the ANC Youth League. Malema is known […]
DRC Opposition Picks War Crimes Defendant as Candidate
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition party has named Jean Pierre-Bemba, who is on trial for war crimes at The Hague, as it presidential candidate. The Movement for the Liberation of Congo announced its decision after a party meeting on Saturday. Bemba, a former Congolese vice president, is currently in jail at the International […]
Bomb Blast in Nigeria Wounds 3 Soldiers
Posted July 24th, 2011 at 2:00 am (UTC-5)
A bomb blast in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri has wounded three government soldiers. A military officer, Hassan Mohammed, said the explosion occurred late Saturday. He said that radical Islamist sect Boko Haram was believed to be behind the blast. Boko Haram wants to impose strict Sharia law across the north, and it rejects […]
Senegal Holds Rival Rallies For and Against President
Posted July 23rd, 2011 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands of Senegalese demonstrators gathered in the capital, Dakar, Saturday to hold rival rallies over President Abdoulaye Wade’s right to run for a third term. Anti-government protesters, including former Prime Minister Macky Sall, marched through a public square outside the city center, denouncing Mr. Wade’s re-election campaign. They say constitutional limits prevent him from running […]
Senegal: Dueling Rallies For and Against President
Posted July 23rd, 2011 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
Thousands of Senegalese demonstrators gathered in the capital, Dakar, to protest against President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term. Top opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Macky Sall, were also on hand Saturday at the demonstration in a public square outside the city center. The protest had been originally scheduled downtown, but organizers changed […]
