French Ground Troops Now Fighting Mali Rebels
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BAMAKO, Mali) — French ground soldiers are now engaging in direct combat with Islamist militants in the North African country of Mali.With al Qaeda-based rebels threatening to take over the country, France has deployed ground tr…
Egyptian President Claims He Was Taken Out of Context
AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — A spokesman for Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi says the angry slurs the leader made against Jews and Zionists during interviews in 2010 were taken out of context.His office was responding to videos in which Morsi, who as t…
White House Denounces Morsi’s Comments on Jews, Zionists
AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The White House on Tuesday sharply rebuked comments made by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi before he rose to power in 2010 in which he exhorted followers to hate Jews and Zionists.Obama administration spokesman Jay Ca…
France Ready to Send More Troops to Mali
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(PARIS) — Facing Islamist fighters determined to overrun the country, the French government is on the verge of deploying more troops to the North African country of Mali.The militants have already taken large swaths of northern M…
US Pledges Help to France Against Al Qaeda Rebels in Mali
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Monday pledged to aid France’s widening aerial assault on al Qaeda-linked rebels in Northern Mali, as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. would provide the French with intelligence and ai…
US Pledges Help to France Against Al Qaeda Rebels in Mali
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Monday pledged to aid France’s widening aerial assault on al Qaeda-linked rebels in Northern Mali, as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. would provide the French with intelligence and ai…
Egyptian Court Overturns Hosni Mubarak’s Conviction
AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is getting a second chance, which will likely not sit well with millions of his countrymen.On Sunday, an appeal courts overturned the deposed leader’s life sentence for what prosecutors…
French Troops Killed in Failed Commando Missions in Somalia and Mali
Hemera/Thinkstock(PARIS) — The French Defense Ministry has confirmed the deaths of two French military service members in two military operations launched in Africa over the past 24 hours. One mission was a secret hostage rescue in Somalia, and the ot…
Rhinos Socialize After Dark? Wildlife Series Reveals Rare Images
Comstock/Thinkstock(LONDON) — Nocturnal gatherings of black rhinos have been captured for Sir David Attenborough’s latest BBC wildlife series, Africa, marking the first time such interactions between black rhinos have ever been documented.Wildli…
New Year’s Stampede Kills 61, Mostly Children, in Ivory Coast
HERVE SEVI/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — A crush of people has killed at least 61 party-goers — most of them children — following New Year’s eve celebrations in the city of Abidjan in Ivory Coast. Officials say over 200 were injured i…
State Department Shuts Down Embassy in Central African Republic
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The State Department announced on Thursday it temporarily closed the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Bangui, in the Central African Republic. According to a statement by State Department Spokesperson Patrick V…
Morsi Asks Egypt to Pull Together After Constitution Approval
AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi told his countrymen on Wednesday that everything was on the level when voters approved an Islamist-based constitution during two rounds of ballot-casting.During a televised address, Morsi ask…
Nelson Mandela Discharged from Hospital
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images(JOHANNESBURG) — Former South African president Nelson Mandela will be able to spend at least part of the holiday season with his family at home rather than in a hospital room.The 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner was disc…
Egypt Officially Passes Islamist-Based Constitution
AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Egypt’s electoral commission announced on Tuesday that an Islamist-backed constitution passed by about a two-thirds majority during two rounds of voting for the referendum that could profoundly alter the nation’s …
Nelson Mandela in ‘Good Spirits,’ President Jacob Zuma Says
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — South African President Jacob Zuma has said Nelson Mandela is “in good spirits,” following a visit to the former South African President in the hospital on Christmas day. Zuma joined Graca Machel and members of t…
Mandela Doctors Not ‘Focusing on Discharge,’ Says Spokesman
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images(JOHANNESBURG) — On day 14 of Nelson Mandela’s hospitalization, a spokesman for the Office of the Presidency reiterated to Friday that Mandela may not be released from the hospital anytime soon. “I don&rsquo…
Nelson Mandela Still in Hospital, May Not Leave Soon
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images(JOHANNESBURG) — Former South African President Nelson Mandela may not be leaving the hospital any time soon, according to the latest statement from government officials.The 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero has been hospitaliz…
Egypt’s Chief Prosecutor Quits One Month After Appointment
Stockbyte/Thinkstock(CAIRO) — One month after President Mohamed Morsi appointed him, Egypt’s chief public prosecutor resigned Monday.Talaat Ibrahim Abdullah stepped down after district prosecutors claimed he pushed for filing charges against a group o…
Egyptian Constitution Appears Headed for Approval
AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Preliminary results in Egypt indicate that a majority of voters on Saturday approved the country’s new constitution, a charter backed by President Mohammed Morsi and his supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood.Observers sa…
Mandela Undergoes an Operation to Remove Gallstones
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images(JOHANNESBURG) — Former South African President Nelson Mandela is not only recovering from a lung infection, but also from a surgery on Saturday morning to remove gallstones.The 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero was flown to an…