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On Africa Day UN chief says continents future full of opportunity and hope
25 May 2013 150 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today declared that while Africans forge ahead with "a new narrative" for their continent, the United Nations will support them as they faced any challenges that remain on the path towards a prosperous future. In his message to mark Africa Day, which commemorates the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the ...
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Kerry US Working with AU to Reduce Sudan Violence
ADDIS ABABA U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is working with the African Union to end violence along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. America's top diplomat met separately with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Ethiopia. Kerry says Sudan and South Sudan "are in a very delicate place right now" and it is important ...
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Kerry Calls on Nigeria to Stop Human Rights Abuses
ADDIS ABABA U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Nigerian authorities are working to stop human rights abuses by security forces in their fight against Boko Haram militants. The U.S. top diplomat made the remarks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where he took part in ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the African Union. Secretary Kerry said there is no denying the ...
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Hezbollah Chief Confirms Fighting in Syria
The chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah says his group will not stand by while the neighboring government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is attacked. Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech Saturday Hezbollah was fighting in Syria to protect Lebanon from the threat of radical Islamists. It was the first time Nasrallah has publicly confirmed Hezbollah's fighting presence in Syria. The speech was ...
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US Defense Chief Calls for End to Military Sex Assaults
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called for an end to sexual assaults in the military Saturday in a commencement speech to graduates of the West Point military academy in New York state. Hagel called sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military a "profound betrayal" of sacred oaths and trusts and a "scourge" that must be stamped out. A day earlier, President Barack Obama ...
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Maoists Attack India Congress Party Convoy
Police say suspected Maoist rebels have attacked a convoy of cars carrying local leaders and supporters of India's ruling Congress party in eastern India, killing at least 16 people and wounding many others. Suspected insurgents fired at the vehicles on Saturday in the Sukma area of Chhattisgarh state. View Larger Map Local reports say some senior party leaders were among ...
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Russia Cracks Down on Gay Activism
Russian police arrested at least 30 gay rights activists and their opponents in the capital, Moscow, Saturday, enforcing the city's ban on gay rights demonstrations. The arrests coincided with the first-ever gay rights rally in neighboring Ukraine, which was allowed by authorities and protected by police. The demonstrators in Russia gathered in front of the nation's lower house of ...
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Leadership Questions Could Hamper Syria Peace Talks
ISTANBUL Next month's Washington - Moscow talks to end the Syrian conflict appear in doubt. The Syrian opposition, at a meeting in Istanbul, remains divided on electing new leadership and it is still unclear if the opposition will attend the talks. Western backers of the opposition are pushing for a broader and more diverse leadership. But attempts to weaken the power of the Islamist ...
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French Soldier Attacked Near Paris
A man wielding a knife or box cutter has stabbed a French soldier in the neck near Paris. Police union spokesman Christophe Crepin released a description of the suspect to the public Saturday. ''We know that he is tall, athletic, we think he was wearing a white tunic and sneakers. Things are evolving, in any case everything has been recorded on video and we will find him.'' French ...
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African Leaders Condemn Ongoing Use of Cluster Bombs
Thirty-six African countries have formally condemned the use of cluster bombs and urged all of Africa to join a global ban on the deadly weapons. Delegates at a conference in Lome, Togo say they are gravely concerned about the ongoing use of cluster munitions and the mounting number of victims, including women and children. They say 14 African countries have a cluster bomb problem, ...
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Retiring Kirsten says two-in-one Kallis absence to leave huge void in Proteas squad
Outgoing South African coach Gary Kirsten has said that the absence of veteran player Jacques Kallis will leave a huge void in the squad, ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Kallis opted out of representing the Proteas in the last edition of the Champions Trophy due to personal reasons, but indicated he still wants to play in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, ...
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Floods Hit San Antonio Texas
Nearly 40 centimeters of rain has fallen in some parts of the city since early Saturday. Rescuers have spent much of the past several hours pulling more than 200 people from their flooded cars and homes. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is imploring people to stay off the ...
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Syrian opposition slams Hezbollah involvement in conflict
A Syrian opposition group on Saturday condemned the involvement of the Lebanese Hezbollah group in the country's civil conflict, saying that Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent comments overtly defended his group's backing to the Syrian army.In a phone interview with Xinhua, Munther Khdam, spokesman of the oppositional National Coordination Body, dismissed ...
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Former Nigeria coach urges Super Eagles to beat Kenya
Former Nigeria's Super Eagles head coach Christian Chukwu has charged the team to defeat the Harambee Stars of Kenya in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier, even in the absence of some key players.Three Super Eagles top midfield players Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kalu Uche have been ruled out of the crucial encounter, due to injuries.Chukwu told reporters in Lagos on Saturday that he was ...
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Nigeria calls up 12 basketball players to camp
Nigeria has called up 12 players to camp from the domestic basketball premier league to prepare for the 2013 Afrobasket basketball event.President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Tijani Umar disclosed this to reporters in Abuja on Saturday, saying the players would report to camp on Sunday, May 26.Umar told reporters that the 12 players are going to come to Abuja for the national ...
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AU marks pan-African blocs 50th anniversary
The African Union (AU) on Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU), which is now the AU, with different activities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the seat of its headquarters.The celebrations kicked off Saturday morning with a special summit of AU heads of states and governments, where the leaders in the presence of other dignitaries had debate ...
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Ghana urges Africans to sustain peace progress and democracy on AU
Ghanaian government has urged fellow African countries to work hard to sustain the path of democracy, unity and progress on the continent.Minister for Defense, Mark Owen Woyongo made this call at a brief, but colorful flag-raising ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the "African Union" or "Organization of African Unity" (AU/OAU) here on Saturday."Though democracy ...
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Integration key in transforming African economies
As the African Union (AU) commemorates 50th anniversary and refocuses its agenda for the coming years, the integration of the continent's economies is seen as a vital element which should be pursued vigorously.While efforts have been made to integrate African economies through individual regional economic blocs, the challenge now is how to translate that into integrating the entire African ...
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50th founding anniversary of Organization for African Unity marked in Ethiopia
Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Wang Yang addresses a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Meng ...
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Egypts top court rejects election law as unconstitutional
Egypt's top court on Saturday rejected the election law submitted by the Shura Council, or the upper house of the parliament, citing unconstitutionality of some of its articles, official news agency MENA reported.The Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) said the law, which would govern the lower house elections if approved, was unconstitutional as it allowed unfair representation, religious ...
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Intense fighting in Syrias al-Qussair kills 27 rebels activists
About 27 rebels and three civilians were killed Saturday during intense fighting at the strategic city of al-Qussair in central Syria, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.The clashes were coupled with government troops' bombardment on parts of the city where intense battles have been intensifying since last week.The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV placed the overall ...
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Syrian opposition fails to reach decision on Geneva talks
Syria's opposition in Istanbul on Saturday failed to reach a consensus on whether to participate the forthcoming Geneva conference."We are exchanging opinions, we are yet to make a decision," said Syrian National Coalition (SNC) spokesperson, Khaled Saleh.The Syrian main opposition group has held talks since Thursday in Istanbul to discuss its stance in the upcoming Geneva II ...
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Syrian troops regain airbase in central city
The Syrian troops regained a rebel- held airbase in the central strategic city of al-Qussair on Saturday, local media said.The al-Daba'a airfield was stormed by the troops Saturday after intense fighting had flared up in al-Qussair a week ago.Saturday's battles concentrated on a number of northern areas of al-Qussair, reports said.The Syrian army pushed its way into al-Qussair city ...
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Bombing attackers in Niger come from S Libya media
The two car-bomb attacks happened in Niger was launched by attackers from neighboring Libya, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou was quoted as saying on Saturday.The attackers came from "south of Libya", basing on the information available, Mahamadou Issoufou told TV channel France 24.Suicide bombers killed at least 20 people in separate attacks, which were claimed by two ...
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AU chairman lauds Chinas role in infrastructure development in
Stating that some Africa's partners have given priority to infrastructural development in Africa, Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopian Prime Minister and the chairman of the African Union (AU), on Saturday expressed appreciation to China for investing billions in the sector on the African continent.Hailemariam was speaking to a special AU summit called for the commemoration of the 50th ...
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