Bananas hurled at Italy’s first black minister
Some of Italy’s top politicians on Saturday rallied behind the country’s first black minister, a target of racist slurs since her appointment in April, after a spectator threw bananas at her while she was making a speech. Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, who is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo,... Read more
Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to re-examine “exodus”
Pope Francis, in a stunningly candid assessment of the state of the Catholic Church, said on Saturday it should look in the mirror and ask why so many people are leaving the faith of their fathers. On the penultimate day of his trip to Brazil, Francis delivered a long... Read more
Tunisians protest at funeral of slain opposition politician
Thousands of protesters chanting anti-government slogans joined a funeral march to lay to rest an assassinated Tunisian opposition politician, a display of the anger threatening the survival of a government once seen as a model in the region for the transition to democracy. Adding to the tension, a bomb... Read more
Zimbabwe’s next poll witness less violence as date approaches
At the age of 89 President Robert Mugabe is on the campaign trail, seeking to extend his grip on Zimbabwe in an election next week that observers fear will be marred by fraud. But the opposition is gambling that there is enough discontent to unseat the wily political survivor,... Read more
Nigerian Navy restates resolve to ensure safe maritime domain
  .Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba By Diana-Okon Effiong: The Nigerian Navy has restated its personnel’s resolve to ensure that the nation’s maritime domain is kept safe against piracy, illegal bunkering, sea robbery and other illegalities. The naval hierarchy’s resolve was restated by Rear-Adm. Joe Aikhomu, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern... Read more
A Case for Strong Institutions
By Dakuku Peterside     All men of goodwill who look forward to a more progressive and equitable world appreciate the tremendous good Transparency International, TI does with its periodic verdict on nations and institutions across the globe. Sometimes I just wonder what our world would look like without... Read more
U A E pardons Norwegian woman imprisoned for reporting rape
The United Arab Emirates has pardoned a Norwegian woman who was sentenced to jail for illicit sex after she reported being raped by a colleague while on a visit to Dubai, the Norwegian foreign minister said on Monday. Marte Deborah Dalelv, 24, had been awaiting an appeal hearing of... Read more
Mandela showing “sustained improvement”
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is showing “sustained improvement” in hospital although he remains in a critical condition, the government said on Monday. The government statement said President Jacob Zuma had visited the 95-year-old Mandela in the Pretoria hospital where he has been for the last seven weeks... Read more
Golden Eaglets arrive Calabar July 22 for closed-camping ahead of 2013 world cup in UAE
Diana-Okon Effiong Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s U-17 football  team and officials, are due in Calabar July 22 to continue their build-up for the world  championship billed for United arab emirate between Oct. 17 to Nov, 8  this year. This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent in... Read more
Limits of Deceit in the Slippery Ceasefire with Boko Haram.
By Nkem Ekeopara   Glowing like a jobless Nigerian youth, who had just landed a job in an oil company, and exuding the confidence of an army general, who had secured a long sought victory for his country over his country’s arch enemy, Alhaji Taminu Turaki, Nigeria’s Minister of... Read more