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World News
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| 13 Dec South African woman executed in China
Janice Bronwyn Linden a 38 year old South African woman convicted of drug smuggling in China, has been executed.
The execution was carried out by lethal injection, more than three years after Linden’s arrest and after Chinese authorities had rejected an appeal by President Jacob Zuma to spare her life.
Reports in China said Chinese authorities allowed two of Ms Linden's sisters to spend an hour with her before she was executed.
Linden was a... |
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Campbell diamonds
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06 Aug (TBA) Mandela official received Campbell 'diamonds'
The former head of Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Jeremy Ratcliffe, has said he did receive alleged uncut diamonds from the model Naomi Campbell.
Mr Ratcliffe issued a statement after Ms Campbell’s testimony at the war crimes trial of ex-Liberian leader Charles Taylor in the Hague.
It is alleged that Ms Campbell received the gems from Mr Taylor in 1997, which could link him to illegal "blood diamonds".
Mr Ratcliffe said he was... |
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USA World Cup alert
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30 May (TBA) US issues alert on World Cup tournament
The US government has issued a travel alert warning to its citizens that South Africa faces a heightened risk of terrorism during the World Cup.
It says that large-scale public events present an attractive target.
"There is a heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within South Africa in the near future," the US state department said.
The warning came as US President Barack Obama (pictured) wished the Ame... |
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Lebanon fears
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10 Feb (TBA) Lebanon fears Israel war threat
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (pictured) says he is concerned about "escalating" threats posed to the Middle East by Israel.
In an interview with the BBC Hariri said Israeli planes were entering Lebanese airspace every day, and he feared the prospect of another war with Israel.
He accused Israel of making a huge mistake by allegedly threatening both Lebanon and neighbouring Syria.
He said: "We hear a lot of Israeli threats day in an... |
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USA Obama
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08 Jan (TBA) Obama says US security agencies fell short
US President Barack Obama says the country’s security agencies failed to "connect and understand" intelligence it had prior to the failed Christmas Day airline bomb attack.
In a national address, President Obama said he was ordering an immediate strengthening of "watch lists" for terror suspects.
He said it was not a failure of a single individual, but rather a "systemic failure" across agencies.
The Nigerian suspect Umar Farou... |
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Jackson tribute
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07 July Michael Jackson given send-off fit for superstar
Michael Jackson's family and fans paid tribute to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
The venue is where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his sudden death, aged 50, on 25 June.
The singer's coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral.
From the world of music Lionel Richie, Ste... |
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USA Jackson
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25 June Michael Jackson taken ill in Los Angeles
Pop star Michael Jackson (pictured) has been taken to a Los Angeles medical centre.
USA media reports said the 50-year-old singer was taken by ambulance to the UCLA Medical Center.
A report in the Los Angeles Times said Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home.
Paramedics apparently performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Jackson before they took him to the medical centre. No further details were availabl... |
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USA key speech
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04 Jun Obama seeks new beginning for US in key speech
President Barack Obama (pictured) today said the "cycle of suspicion and discord" between the United States and the Muslim world must end.
Delivering a keynote speech in Cairo, Obama called for a "new beginning" in ties.
He admitted there had been "years of distrust" and said both sides needed to make a "sustained effort... to respect one another and seek common ground".
Obama said the US bond with Israel was unbreakable but desc... |
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China economy
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18 Mar World Bank predicts lower growth in China
China's economic growth in 2009 has been readjusted from 7.5% to 6.5%, by the World Bank, on the basis that it could not "escape the impact of global weakness".
Falling demand for Chinese goods abroad is seen as the main reason for the reduction in the World Bank’s prediction of China’s growth potential.
However, the bank added that China's economy was still holding up well compared to other countries, and remained a bright spot amid al... |
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Germany
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11 March 16 killed in Germany school attack
A shooting at a school in southern Germany has left 16 people dead, including an armed 17-year old, police have said.
Reports said police shot the suspect after he fled Albertville high school in Winnenden, near Stuttgart.
Police and media reported that a man dressed in black had entered the school at about 9:30am (08:30 GMT) and opened fire.
Witnesses said students jumped from the windows of the school building after the teenager opened fir... |
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UK: fraud
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25 Feb Nigerian fraudsters target UK Minister
Jack Straw (pictured) UK Justice Secretary has been the victim of Nigerian fraudsters who sent out hundreds of e-mails in his name asking for money.
The e-mails apparently claimed that Straw had lost his wallet while on charity work in Africa and needed 3,500 US dollars to get home.
Straw has confirmed the e-mails had been sent to a "significant number of people" in his address book but he said there were no security issues as it was his ... |
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Egypt
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22 Feb Cairo bomb blast kills French tourist
A bomb explosion in Cairo today killed a French tourist and injured about 17 other people, mostly foreign tourists, according to reports in Egypt.
Reports said the explosion took place at an open-air cafe packed with tourists in the historic Khan al-Khalili area - a major attraction and home to a prominent mosque.
The device was apparently thrown from a balcony, police say. Initial reports had suggested it had been lobbed from a motorbike. ... |
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Black achievers
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22 Jan Check out profiles of black achievers
Please take a moment to view the website below, which shows 365 remarkable black people who have all overcome considerable odds and become household names in their chosen professions.
Their significant achievements are all the notable following the swearing in of Barack Obama as the first black USA president on January 20, 2009.
http://www.ls.cc.al.us:80/blackhistory/blackhistory.html
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DRC doctor
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15 Jan DRC doctor receives ‘African of the Year’ award
A Democratic Republic of Congo doctor who treats women raped by combatants in the war-torn country has been awarded the "African of the Year" title.
Denis Mukwege, 53 (pictured) who runs a clinic in Bukavu, where he receives an average of 10 new patients every day has said all sides have "declared women their common enemy".
He says his award from the Nigerian Daily Trust paper of $20,000 (£13,700) will be used to fund a centre to ... |
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USA Motown
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12 Jan Motown Records marks 50th annivesary
Motown Records, the famous US record labels which popularised black music, and produced household names such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Rose, is marking its 50th anniversary.
The label was originally called Tamla by the founder, Berry Gordy (pictured), a songwriter and businessman. He started the label in 1959 from a studio in his cellar after securing an $800 loan.
Today Motown Records boasts nearly 200 No 1 songs worldwide, and h... |
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Gaza shelling
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06 Jan Thirty killed in Gaza as Israel shells hit school
At least 30 people were killed and 55 injured today when Israeli artillery shells landed outside a United Nations-run school in Gaza, UN officials have said.
According to UN reports, a number of children were among those who died when the al-Fakhura school in the Jabaliya refugee camp took a direct hit.
Israel said its soldiers had come under fire from militants inside the school.
Earlier today, Pierre Kraehenbuhl, a senior In... |
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USA Serena
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17 Nov Serena opens school in Kenya
Serena Williams (pictured) has become the latest African American to be associated with a school project in Africa, following her visit to Kenya over the week end where she opened a school named after her in the remote village of Matooni in Makueni District.
The highly decorated tennis player, who is on a charity tour of Kenya opened the Serena Williams Secondary School that she helped build.
She follows in the footsteps of Oprah Winfrey who built a ... |
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USA Bush
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14 Oct US govt to take $250bn stake in banks
US president, George Bush (pictured) today announced his government will purchase stakes worth $250bn (£143bn) in a wide variety of banks, in an effort to restore confidence in the sector.
"This is an essential short-term measure to ensure the viability of America's banking system," Bush said. "This is not intended to take over the free market, but to preserve it."
He said the move would help to return stability to the US banking sector and... |
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USA OJ Simpson
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04 Oct OJ Simpson found guilty of armed robbery
OJ Simpson (pictured) the former US football star has been found guilty on 12 charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon by a court in the US city of Las Vegas.
Simpson was accused of robbing two sports memorabilia dealers a year ago.
The armed robbery charges carry a mandatory jail sentence, and kidnapping carries a possible life term.
Simpson, 61, who denied the charges, was acquitted of murder in... |
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USA actor dies
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26 Sept Paul Newman dies of cancer
Paul Newman (pictured) the Hollywood legend has died of cancer at the age of 83, according to his spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic.
Tomljanovic told the press that Newman, who won universal acclaim for his acting talent in films such as, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, died on Friday. She gave no further details.
Newman was nominated for an Oscar 10 times, winning a best actor trophy in 1987 for The Color Of Money.
In May 2007, he gave up acting s... |
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Norway fund
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17 Sept Norway pledges $1bn to protect Amazon forest
Norway has pledged $1bn (£500m) to a new international fund to help Brazil protect the Amazon rainforest.
The donation is the first to the fund which Brazil hopes will raise $21bn to protect Amazon nature reserves. The money will be released over seven years to promote alternatives to forest-clearing for people living in the Amazon, and support conservation and sustainable development.
Announcing the donation, Norwegian prime minist... |
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South Africa
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16 Sept Popular SA actor dies of heart attack
John Matshikiza (pictured) a well-known South African actor and newspaper columnist has died of a heart attack at the age of 54.
The SABC reported that Matshikiza collapsed in a restaurant in Melville on Monday night and could not be revived. He had apparently been feeling unwell and disorientated over the past week, and had been due to visit a doctor on Tuesday.
The son of late Drum Magazine writer, Todd Matshikiza, John was born in Johan... |
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USA Obama speaks
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29 Aug Obama pledges ‘better America’ after Bush
US presidential nominee Barack Obama (pictured) has accused the Bush administration of pursuing broken politics and said America could be a better country than it had been under the Bush administration.
In his speech in Denver where he officially accepted his nomination as the Democratic party presidential candidate Obama focused mainly on jobs and the economy. “Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less,... |
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USA Obama
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26 Aug Verdict on Michelle Obama speech
The speech delivered by Barack Obama's wife, Michelle (pictured) on the first day of the US Democratic Party convention in Denver has been welcomed by liberal US newspapers while the conservative press was less impressed.
In her speech on the convention's opening night, Michelle said her husband would be "an extraordinary president".
"Obama, Kennedy electrify crowd" ran the headline of an article in the Washington Post, which described Mrs Obama... |
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USA actor
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04 Aug Morgan Freeman in car accident
Morgan Freeman the African-American Oscar-winning actor is in serious condition hospital after being injured in a car accident in Mississippi.
Reports said the 71-year-old Dark Knight star is in a serious condition, according to staff at Memphis's Regional Medical Center. The accident happened shortly before midnight on Sunday in Tallahatchie County in the Mississippi Delta.
A Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman told the press that Freeman's car ... |
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USA Iraq
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21 July Obama meets Iraq leaders
Barack Obama, (pictured) the US Democratic presidential candidate, today met Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, for talks in Baghdad.
Obama also met Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, and US troops stationed in the country. Reports said he is also expected to hold talks with General David Petraeus, the senior US commander in Iraq.
The visit marks Obama’s second trip to Iraq, and comes less than four months before the US presidential election on ... |
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USA nomination
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05 June Clinton pledges to support Obama
Hillary Clinton, who lost the race for Democratic Party nomination for presidential candidate, to Barack Obama, (pictured) has finally agreed to bury the hatchet and support her rival in his bid to become the first black US president.
Clinton said in a letter on Thursday, that she was drawing the curtain on a gruelling 16-month nominating fight that badly split the Democratic Party.
Clinton, who polled 1,919 delegates against Obama’s 2,154 deleg... |
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China disaster
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13 May China earthquake death toll tops 12,000
The death toll from China's most devastating earthquake in three decades has jumped to at least 12,000, according to official sources who also noted that storms are hampering rescuers in the most devastated areas.
Chinese state media reports indicated that the number of dead from the 7.9 magnitude quake was likely to soar much higher.
Reports in the government controlled Xinhua news agency said 10,000 people were buried in the Mianzhu area ... |
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China earthquake
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12 May China earthquake buries 900 students
Around 900 students are reported to have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China.
Chinese state media reports say President Hu Jintao has called for "all-out" efforts to rescue victims of the quake which had a magnitude of 7.8. Reports say tremors were felt as far afield as Beijing, the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Hanoi in Vietnam.
Chinese media said full details of the incident which buried 900 students ... |
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Burma
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| 11 May Burma eases restrictions on foreign access
The Burmese government has eased restrictions on foreign access to areas hit by the cyclone Nargis and the amount of aid getting through has increased according, to aid sources.
The World Food Programme which has distributed 38 tonnes of previously held-up aid, has however warned that much more needs to get through. In a major setback for the aid effort, a Red Cross boat carrying aid sank in the Irrawaddy Delta.
Meanwhile, Burma state ... |
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Burma
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| 06 May Burma cyclone death toll hits 22,500
Burma’s ruling military junta has raised the death toll from Cyclone Nargis on to nearly 22,500 with a further 41,000 missing, nearly all of them from a massive storm surge that swept into the Irrawaddy delta.
As the United Nations' World Food Programme began sending out emergency rice in Yangon and the first batch of more than $10 million (5 million pounds) worth of foreign aid arrived from Thailand, Burma’s Minister for Relief and Resettleme... |
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Burma
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05 May Burma cyclone kills 4,000 people
Around 4,000 people have been killed after a devastating cyclone hit western Burma on Saturday, according to state television.
Reports said all those deaths were recorded in Rangoon and Irrawaddy, the two of five regions so far declared disaster zones. Many more are feared dead in the outlying regions not yet reached by authorities or aid agencies.
A spokesman for the Burmese of ruling junta told the press in Rangoon that the final toll could re... |
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Brazil
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30 Apr Ronaldo caught up in sex scandal
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (pictured) the Brazilian football star known simply as, Ronaldo, has been caught up in a sex scandal with three cross-dressing prostitutes.
According to Rio police, Ronaldo picked up three prostitutes after dropping off his girlfriend at her house in Rio de Janeiro on Monday night. When they all booked into a motel, the AC Milan striker who is in his home country to recover from an injury, discovered that the prostitutes w... |
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US currency
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18 Mar US economy facing sharp decline
US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson has admitted that the US economy is facing a "sharp decline."
Addressing the press today, Paulson said: "We know we're in a sharp down-climb and there's no doubt that the American people know that the economy has turned down."
The news comes amidst reports that small currency outlets in Amsterdam are turning away tourists seeking to sell their dollars for local money while on vacation in the Netherlands.
An Ame... |
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UK
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17 Mar Till £24m in my account ‘do-us-part’
Sir Paul McCartney’s (pictured) ex-wife Heather Mills was today awarded £24.3m by London's High Court in a divorce settlement.
Former Beatle McCartney left the court without speaking to the press. But Mills told the press outside the court that she was "glad it's over" and "it was an incredible result to secure mine and my daughter's future".
As part of the deal, Mills will receive £14 million for herself and £2.5m to buy a house in London. ... |
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Iraq
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11 Mar Eight US soldiers killed in Iraq
EIGHT US soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Iraq yesterday, according to the US military reports.
Three soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb, along with their interpreter in Iraq's Diyala province, while a suicide bomber killed five in the capital Baghdad.
Analysts said the bombing in Baghdad, which the U.S. military had confirmed on Monday, was the worst single attack on U.S. forces in the capital in nearly nine months.
Furthe... |
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Gaza
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06 Mar Gaza on the brink of disaster - report
Gaza's humanitarian situation is at its worst since Israel occupied the territory in 1967, according to UK-based human rights and development groups.
In a report titled: Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion, the agencies, which include Amnesty International, Save the Children, Cafod, Care International and Christian Aid, say the blockade has dramatically worsened levels of poverty and unemployment, and has led to deterioration in education a... |
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France
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28 Feb Sarkozy on new deal with Africa
President Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured) of France, has said his country will renegotiate its defence deals with African countries.
Currently, France has military deals with Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Central African Republic and Senegal, as well as Chad. It also has several military bases on the continent.
It has military accords with several of its former colonies and recently helped the Chad government repulse rebels.
Sarkozy said the changes would ... |
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USA politics
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27 Feb CNN poll gives Obama lead in Texas and Ohio
Several polls suggest that Barack Obama (pictured) is gaining ground in both Texas and Ohio over Mrs Hilary Clinton, his Democratic rival for the nomination of presidential candidate.
One such poll conducted by CNN suggests the Illinois senator is leading in Texas for the first time, with 50% compared to 46% for Mrs Clinton.
On Tuesday, Obama won endorsement from Senator Christopher Dodd, a former rival for the Democratic nomination. ... |
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Nigeria
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25 Feb Nigerian soccer star faces 10 years for rape
Godwin Okpara (pictured) the former Nigerian international soccer star faces 10 years in a French jail for the rape, torture and enslavement of his adopted daughter.
Okpara’s wife, Linda, was sentenced to 15 years. The couple are expected to appeal against the sentences after denying all the charges against them.
Okpara (35) played for French sides Strasbourg and Paris St Germain and at international level for his country. He admitted... |
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Argentina
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| 22 Feb Teenage girl has triplets – for second time
A 16-year-old Argentine girl has given birth to female triplets - for the second time – beating the odds which say the chances of a woman giving birth to triplets more than once, are 8,000 to 1.
Reports in Argentine said the teenager, known only as Pamela, turns 17 on Monday. She lives in the remote town of Leones in the central Argentine province of Cordoba.
Pamela, had her first set of female triplets aged just 15, having first given... |
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UK citizenship
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20 Feb Abbot opposes UK citizenship proposal
Diane Abbott, (pictured) the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has ridiculed proposals for tougher rules for non-EU immigrants in the UK.
Speaking this afternoon, after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had unveiled the proposals saying that future migrants would need to "earn" citizenship, Abbot said the policy would force non-European migrants to pay fees that would benefit European migrants.
She said: "How can it be fair for no... |
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OBAMA
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20 Feb Obama in 10th victory over Clinton
Barack Obama (pictured) has extended his lead over his Democratic party rival, Hillary Clinton, for the nomination to run for US president.
Obama registered his 10th straight win over Clinton by winning the primary in Wisconsin and Hawaii where he was born. He now has the support of 1,319 candidates in 24 states, while Mrs Clinton has 1,245 candidates in 13 states. It will take 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination at the party's n... |
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Mandela
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19 Feb Spice Girls gig in honour of Mandela
The Spice Girls have offered to perform at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in June at London’s Hyde Park.
An all-star concert, including Queen stars Brian May and Roger Taylor, is being organised to mark Mandela’s birthday on 27 June.
The Spice Girls, UK's most successful all-women group, recently reformed and are currently on tour until 26 February. They met Mandela during a visit to Johannesburg in November 1997, when he famous... |
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Cuba
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19 Feb Castro steps down as president
Fidel Castro (pictured), the Cuban President has announced he is stepping down as head of state and commander in chief of the country's armed forces.
Revered as one of the left wing political icons of the 20th Century, Castro (81) swept to power in an armed revolution in 1959. But of late he has suffered declining health.
Yesterday he announced in a statement published on the website of the Communist Party's Gran ma newspaper that he would not "as... |
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Darfur crisis
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18 Feb Oxfam urges urgent action in Chad
Oxfam, the UK-based charity, today called on EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels not to repeat the mistakes of Darfur in Chad, and to vigorously pursue all diplomatic channels to help secure a lasting ceasefire and a durable peace.
Urging Europe to go beyond responding to the urgent protection needs of civilians in Darfur, Oxfam's Regional Director Nick Roseveare said: "We have all the elements for a huge humanitarian crisis rapidly developi... |
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Afghanistan
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17 Feb 80 killed by suicide bomber in Afghanistan
A suicide bomber has today killed at least 80 people in the Afghan city of Kandahar. Afghanistan authorities said the bomber targeted a crowd of people watching a dog-fighting competition.
Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai (pictured) recently requested more help from western coalition forces in the country to wrestle control of areas under the Talebans.
Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khalid, who survived an attempt on his life last week,... |
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China
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14 Feb Reporters Without Borders berates China
China’s lack of interest in the violation of human rights by African states it gives aid to, is partly to blame for the increase in the arrest and imprisonment of journalists on the continent this year, according to the media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders.
In an interview with the BBC, Leonard Vincent, the media watchdog’s spokesman said: "The influence of China in African affairs has been very toxic for democracy. Jailing journalist... |
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Australia
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13 Feb Aussie PM apologises to Aborigines
Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (pictured) today apologized to the Aborigine community for a policy of forcibly removing children from their parents which was practised by the previous administrations until the late 1960’s.Rudd said "Sorry" three times in a speech broadcast on big screens set-up all over the country.
Rudd said it was proper to offer a formal apology to members of the Stolen Generation and other Indigenous Australians who s... |
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OBAMA
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13 Feb Obama edges Clinton in primaries
Barack Obama (pictured) looks set to overtake his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after clinching Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in the latest round of primaries.
Obama has now secured 1,223 delegates from 22 states while Mrs Clinton has 1,198 delegates in her favour. However, neither candidate has secured enough party delegates to be certain of the nomination to contest Novemb... |
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