Connect to share and comment

Shells hit Sudan town as African football cup opens

Suspected rebel shell-fire hit the capital of Sudan's war-torn South Kordofan state on Tuesday, the opening day of an African regional football tournament, local sources said. They said the shells hit Kadugli in the early afternoon, ahead of the first match in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) Kagame Club Cup. "They are targeting that stadium," a local resident said. The venue was not hit and there were no reports of casualties.

Western Union sees $500 million online revenue by 2015: CEO

By Chijioke Ohuocha LAGOS (Reuters) - Western Union Co <WU.N> expects revenue from its digital business to grow to $500 million by 2015, from $150 million currently, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Chief Executive Hikmet Ersek told reporters during a visit to Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos that while the digital business is only about 3 percent of its $5.6 billion total revenue, it was the fastest growing.

French sailor freed after pirate attack, Nigeria says

ABUJA (Reuters) - A French sailor was freed on Tuesday after being captured by pirates last week from his ship off the coast of Togo and taken to Nigeria, a military commander said. Pirates attacked the oil products tanker Adour on June 13, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Togo.

Libya sea tragedy survivors file suits against France, Spain

Two survivors of a 2011 boat tragedy which killed 63 people off Libya filed suits Tuesday in France and Spain, accusing defence forces of the two countries of failing to assist people in danger. The incident dates back to March 26, 2011, when 72 African migrants left the Libyan capital Tripoli on a boat destined for Italy, their planned departure having been brought forward by the start of the French-led military intervention in Libya. They quickly lost control of the overloaded boat and, after drifting for two weeks, were washed up on the Libyan coastline on April 10.

Nigeria drops charges against some Russian arms suspects

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian authorities dropped charges on Tuesday against eight Russian sailors suspected of trafficking arms, their lawyer said, but another seven will face trial. The 15 Russian sailors were charged with illegally bringing weapons into Nigeria last year, after Nigerian authorities intercepted a ship on October 23, saying they had found several guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Pentagon's Korean War Exhibit opens to mark alliance anniversary

By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, June 18 (Yonhap) -- A Korean War exhibit opened Tuesday at the Pentagon as U.S. officials endeavor to enhance public awareness on the historical significance of the so-called Forgotten War. It is part of various programs to mark the 60th anniversary of the alliance between South Korea and the U.S., which dates back to the 1950-53 conflict.

The adventures of a Libyan weapons dealer in Syria

By Jessica Donati, Ghaith Shennib and Firas Bosalum BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Abdul Basit Haroun says he is behind some of the biggest shipments of weapons from Libya to Syria, which he delivers on chartered flights to neighboring countries and then smuggles over the border. After fleeing Libya in his 20s, Haroun established himself as a property developer in Manchester. After about two decades in the British city, he returned to Libya in 2011 to fight in the revolution, where he became a prominent rebel commander.

Pakistan funeral bomb death toll rises to 27

A suicide bombing at a funeral in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday killed at least 27 people and wounded 55 others, police said. The attack in Shergarh town in Mardan district, 145 kilometres (90 miles) northwest of Islamabad, was the deadliest to hit Pakistan since the new government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office earlier this month. str-jaf/pdw/ia

Singapore, Indonesia tussle over haze problem

Singapore on Tuesday stepped up the pressure on Indonesia to fight forest fires as smog from Sumatra island continued to shroud the densely populated city-state. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on his Facebook page that Singapore's foreign and environment ministers had spoken to their Indonesian counterparts to "register our serious concerns and offer our help to fight the fires".

Russia starts delivering $1 billion arms package to Azerbaijan

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has begun delivering tanks, artillery cannons and rocket launchers worth $1 billion to Azerbaijan, a Moscow-based defense group said on Tuesday, as the former Soviet republic strengthens its military readiness in the volatile South Caucasus. Oil- and gas-producing Azerbaijan, where President Ilham Aliyev faces re-election in October, has boosted arms spending and threatened to take back the disputed territory of Nagorno- Karabakh by force from neighboring Armenia.
Syndicate content