Reuters: Top News

Pirates kill captain, chief engineer in Nigeria ship attack

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:12:37 +0000

ABUJA (Reuters) - Pirates shot dead the captain and the chief engineer on a cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria on Monday, an International Maritime Bureau (IMB) official said, the latest in a string of attacks on vessels off the coast of Africa's No. 1 oil producer.

Nigeria security forces stop bomb attempt in Kaduna

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:33:42 +0000

KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian security forces stopped a bomber on Monday who tried to ram a car packed with explosives through the gates of government house in the northern city of Kaduna, a government official said.

Obama proposes $800 million in aid for "Arab Spring"

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:10:27 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced plans on Monday to help "Arab Spring" countries swept by revolutions with more than $800 million in economic aid, while maintaining U.S. military aid to Egypt.

Death of Kabila deal-maker leaves void in Congo

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:55:06 +0000

KINSHASA (Reuters) - The death of President Joseph Kabila's chief adviser has removed a secretive but powerful deal-maker from Democratic Republic of Congo's politics and mining business, and deprived the leader of a trusted aide as he seeks to form a new government.

Tunisia says breaks up Islamist "terrorist" group

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:56:42 +0000

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia has broken up a "terrorist organisation" and arrested 12 members who had received military training in Libya and were seeking to set up an Islamic state, Interior Minister Ali Larayed said on Monday.

Somalia wants arms embargo lifted to fend off al Qaeda

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:27:46 +0000

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's government called on Monday for the lifting of an arms embargo to help it resist an al Qaeda-backed Islamist insurgency.

Five killed in clashes in southeast Libya

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:35:57 +0000

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - At least five people have been killed in clashes between rival tribes over control of territory in the far southeast of Libya, officials said on Monday, highlighting the challenge of policing the country's sparsely populated desert.

Geldof Africa fund raises $200 million

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:40:53 +0000

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Irish rock star Bob Geldof has raised $200 million for his "8 Mile" African private equity fund, cementing a shift in his global anti-poverty crusade from rich world debt forgiveness to promoting private enterprise.

Nigerian poverty rising despite economic growth

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:57:07 +0000

ABUJA (Reuters) - Poverty in Nigeria is rising with almost 100 million people living on less than $1 a day, despite strong growth in Africa's second largest economy, data showed on Monday.

Belgium court rules Tintin does not break racism law

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:57:18 +0000

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Belgian court has rejected an application to ban a colonial-era book about the Congolese adventures of cartoon character Tintin for breaching racism laws, court documents showed.