WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The captain and four other Polish seamen abducted from a ship off Nigeria’s coast last week are fine and called their families at home, Poland’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday. “Today the abducted seamen contacted their families in Poland by phone to tell them that they are safe and sound,” the ministry … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — With more than half of Africa’s population expected to live in cities by the year 2050, a gathering in South Africa on Sunday is exploring new models for urban Africa. Hundreds of city officials from across Africa have gathered for the seventh Africities Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, to discuss … Continue reading
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Agents from Nigeria’s intelligence and financial crimes agencies have detained the former presidential security adviser and several others over missing billions of dollars meant to buy weapons to fight Boko Haram. PR Nigeria, which publishes government news, said the Department of State Security on Tuesday took former national security adviser Sambo … Continue reading
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria is slashing its fine on MTN, Africa’s largest telecommunications operator, by more than a third to $3.4 billion, and the CEO of the embattled Nigerian subsidiary has resigned, the company said Thursday. The South Africa-based MTN Group also announced major management changes to strengthen oversight and regulatory compliance across all … Continue reading
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — An American who has been on trial in Kampala for counterfeiting currency notes worth $180,400 will be deported to the U.S. where he faces criminal charges, a Ugandan court ordered Thursday. Ryan Andrew Gustafson pleaded with Magistrate Flavia Nabakooza not to have him deported. “I would rather remain in Luzira (the … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An appeals court decided Thursday that Oscar Pistorius got away with murder when he stood trial for killing his girlfriend, a ruling that will almost certainly send the disgraced Olympian back to prison. The court overturned his conviction on the lesser charge of manslaughter in the 2013 shooting death of model Reeva … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A leading Kenyan university should have sought authorization from the “highest security office in the country” for a practice exercise to test terrorism preparedness that led to a stampede in which one person died, a police spokesman said Tuesday. Police are discouraging institutions from carrying out drills on their own, said … Continue reading
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso took a step toward strengthening its democracy with the election on Tuesday of Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who will become the West African country’s second elected civilian president since it became independent from France in 1960. Hundreds of Kabore’s supporters chanted “Presi, Presi” after preliminary results released Tuesday … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Britain’s Prince Harry saw the carcasses of a slaughtered rhino and her calf during a visit Wednesday to South Africa’s Kruger National Park, which has been hard hit by poachers. Harry also stepped into a conservation debate in South Africa, saying he believes legalization of the rhino horn trade will “accelerate the … Continue reading
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Welcomed by a military band and a guard of honor, Chinese President Xi Jinping began a state visit to South Africa on Wednesday, part of China’s effort to strengthen economic ties with Africa. The Chinese government became Africa’s largest international trading partner in 2009, according to the South African Institute … Continue reading
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — A court in the coastal city of Mombasa Wednesday sentenced a British national, who authorities say is an extremist who plotted attacks against the country, to nine years in prison for attempting to illegally acquire Kenyan identification documents. Justice Martin Muya said Wednesday the prosecution has proved that Jermaine Grant had … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan police Tuesday tear-gassed a peaceful demonstration in support of government action against corruption in East Africa’s largest economy. About 200 demonstrators held a peaceful march to the Supreme Court and Parliament buildings where they delivered petitions asking those institutions to do more to tackle corruption in Kenya, demonstration organizer Boniface … Continue reading
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Gay activists are hoping Pope Francis will preach tolerance toward homosexuals, and even go so far as to condemn violent attacks against gays during his upcoming visit to Uganda. Church leaders, however, are praying he’ll avoid the issue altogether. The divergent expectations underscore the acrimonious state of the gay rights debate … Continue reading
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Pageant judges have crowned a new winner of Zimbabwe’s 4th annual “Mister Ugly” contest, upsetting supporters of the crowd favorite who called the winner too handsome and prompting rioting at the event. Judges on Saturday chose 42-year-old Mison Sere, citing his numerous missing front teeth and a wide range of grotesque … Continue reading
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Here is a partial list of the victims of Friday’s attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali which killed 19 people confirmed by The Associated Press: ___ —Anita Ashok Datar, 41, American from Maryland; a senior manager at Palladium Group, Peace Corps volunteer and expert in global health. —Zhou Tianxiang, … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 