LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Thousands of children have died of starvation and disease in Boko Haram-ravaged northeastern Nigeria, Doctors Without Borders said Tuesday quoting a new survey that is forcing Nigerian officials to stop denying the crisis. The Paris-based organization hopes that official recognition of the calamity in which “thousands are dying” will help bring … Continue reading
MIDDELBURG, South Africa (AP) — Two white South Africans accused of forcing a black man into a coffin and threatening to set him on fire appeared before a judge on Wednesday as demonstrators protested against racism outside the courthouse. Members of the ruling African National Congress party and opposition parties gathered outside the court in … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya is coercing residents of the world’s largest refugee camp to leave it and return to Somalia where they risk getting killed or forcibly recruited into the Islamic extremist group, al-Shabab, Amnesty International said Tuesday. Some who voluntarily returned to Somalia from Dadaab camp told The Associated Press they are now … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s deputy president on Tuesday set ablaze more than 5,250 firearms seized by authorities to discourage the circulation of illegal weapons in a country battling extremist violence. Deputy President William Ruto presided over the burning of rifles and pistols in three stacks about 15 feet high. They were recovered in this … Continue reading
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Global temperatures are soaring toward a record high this year, the U.N. weather agency said Monday, while another report showed emissions of a key global warming gas have flattened out in the past three years. The reports injected a mix of gloom and hope at U.N. climate talks in Marrakech this … Continue reading
SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — Alex Noren won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa with the round of his life on Sunday, a sublime 63 that took him from six shots off the lead overnight to a 6-shot victory and his fourth title of a remarkable season on the European Tour. Noren was … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Jacob Zuma faced growing calls to resign on Wednesday after the release of a state report that found possible evidence of corruption at top levels of a government whose leader has been enmeshed in scandal. The report by a state watchdog agency came out as thousands of South Africans … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya is pulling out its 1,000 troops deployed to South Sudan as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and stopping future deployments after the U.N. secretary-general fired the force’s Kenyan commander, the foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday. In a further blow to regional efforts to calm the civil war, Kenya said … Continue reading
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the commander of the peacekeeping force in South Sudan on Tuesday after an independent investigation sharply criticized the military response to deadly attacks in July on a U.N. compound housing 27,000 displaced people. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced the dismissal of Kenyan Lt. Gen. Johnson Mogoa Kimani … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Nelson Mandela Foundation on Tuesday sharply criticized South African President Jacob Zuma, saying “political meddling for private interests” during his tenure has weakened state institutions and poses a threat to the country’s democracy. “It is painful for us at the Nelson Mandela Foundation to bear witness to the wheels coming off … Continue reading
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man accused of plotting to bomb a western Kansas apartment complex where 120 Somali immigrants live told The Associated Press on Monday that federal prosecutors waited until 10 minutes before his detention hearing to share their evidence with his defense attorney. Patrick Stein called the AP from jail in response … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African prosecutors on Monday dropped fraud charges against the finance minister and two former tax officials, reversing a decision that was criticized by many South Africans and deepened concern about the country’s struggling economy and alleged government mismanagement. The turnaround came just two days before Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was due … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa on Friday reversed its early support for the International Criminal Court and said it will withdraw from it, raising concerns of a possible African exodus that would undermine a human rights tribunal accused by some leaders of unfairly targeting the continent. The announcement followed a similar decision by Burundi this … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar says he could return to the turbulent country as early as next month, even if he has to enter the way he fled — on foot. He has begun speaking out again after a long silence, during which he trekked 40 days through the bush into … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Student protesters berated the vice-chancellor of one of South Africa’s top universities on Wednesday, venting their anger over school fees at what was supposed to be a peace-building event. “You are a very cruel man. I hate you,” student leader Vuyani Pambo said into a microphone as Adam Habib, vice-chancellor of the … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 