by Natasha Belle This Cameroon native was allotted the opportunity to play basketball in the United States as a teen. He’s no longer playing basketball but has paved the way for disadvantaged youth. His organization has provided the same opportunities through sports while supporting orphans in Africa. Founder Yannick Formbor, 33, grew up in Douala, … Continue reading
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on Zimbabwe’s political turmoil (all times local): 10:45 p.m. The Zimbabwe pastor who last year led the country’s largest anti-government protests in a decade says “I can’t stop crying” after the resignation of Robert Mugabe as president. Evan Mawarire tweeted as residents of the capital, Harare, poured into the … Continue reading
CAIRO (AP) — Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Tuesday on the political crisis triggered by his resignation with the Egyptian president who, together with France’s leader, is reportedly trying to mediate a solution that would involve rolling back Hariri’s resignation. Hariri, who flew to Cairo from Paris earlier in the day, resigned in … Continue reading
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on Zimbabwe’s political turmoil (all times local): 9 p.m. The deputy spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general says Antonio Guterres is encouraging all Zimbabweans to “maintain calm and restraint” after the resignation of President Robert Mugabe. Farhan Haq also says any analysis of the developments is up to journalists. … Continue reading
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on Zimbabwe’s political turmoil (all times local): 11:15 p.m. The chief whip of Zimbabwe’s ruling party says “I don’t see us failing to proceed with the impeachment” of President Robert Mugabe. Told by the party’s Central Committee to step down by midday Monday or face impeachment, Mugabe baffled the … Continue reading
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Giddy with joy and finally free to speak out, vast throngs of demonstrators turned Zimbabwe’s capital into a carnival ground on Saturday in a peaceful outpouring of disdain for President Robert Mugabe and calls for him to quit immediately. Still clinging to his now-powerless post, the longtime leader was scheduled on … Continue reading
READING, Pa. (AP) — Police captured a big African cat, resembling a cheetah, running loose through the streets of a Pennsylvania city. Reports about the spotted feline started coming in on Nov. 3 in Reading, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. When officers tracked it down, they initially thought they’d found a cheetah. … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The leader of Kenya’s main opposition party urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the disputed presidential election scheduled for Thursday amid rising political tensions and fears of violence in East Africa’s economic power. Jubilant supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who seeks a second term, celebrated the news that the … Continue reading
WHO’S RUNNING? Who knows? Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge claiming vote-rigging led to this new election, has said he won’t take part on Thursday because electoral reforms have not been made. Now he vows to turn his political coalition into a “resistance movement.” But the electoral commission has said Odinga will be on … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — President Uhuru Kenyatta urged Kenyans to remain peaceful ahead of Thursday’s fresh presidential election, while a witness said police shot and wounded at least one person amid a rise in ethnic tensions in the capital, Nairobi. A resident of the low-income Lucky Summer neighborhood said tensions grew after members of Kenyatta’s … Continue reading
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — More than 300 people are dead after the truck bombing in Somalia’s capital and scores of others remain missing, authorities said Monday, as the fragile Horn of Africa nation reeled from one of the world’s worst attacks in years. As funerals continued, the government said the death toll is expected to … Continue reading
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The death toll from a truck bombing in Somalia’s capital has risen above 300, the director of an ambulance service said Monday, as the fragile Horn of Africa nation reeled from the deadliest single attack it’s ever experienced. More people died of their wounds in the past few hours, said … Continue reading
MILAN (AP) — Some 600 migrants rescued at sea arrived Friday in Sicily — one of the biggest influxes since Italy struck a deal with Libyan authorities to limit migrant smuggling — raising concerns of a renewed surge on the Libyan human trafficking route. The migrants, including many unaccompanied minors from sub-Saharan Africa, were rescued … Continue reading
by Antonio Garland Most people believe that African history started with slavery, but there’s much more behind it. Norfolk State University (NSU) associate professor of history and interdisciplinary studies, Patrick Mbajekwe, seeks to teach students that there’s another side to Africa’s distinct background. Mbajekwe, 50, grew up in the village of Onitsha located on the … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hundreds of vultures in Namibia died after feeding on an elephant carcass that poachers had poisoned. Poachers in Zimbabwe used cyanide to kill dozens of elephants for their ivory tusks. In Mozambique three lions died after eating bait infused with a crop pesticide. Poisoning Africa’s wildlife is an old practice, but conservationists … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 