Nigeria: Eni SpA Pipeline Set Ablaze by Militants, MEND Claims Responsibility
A statement purportedly from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta(MEND), one of Nigeria’s largest militant groups, claims to have “attacked and destroyed” a pipeline owned by a Nigerian subsidiary of Eni SpA. Eni has since stated that an incident disrupted its Nigeria output by some 4000 barrels a day, but has yet to officially confirm the attack. In a statement released to media outlets, MEND said that “this relatively insignificant attack is a reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come.”
Fighting to the End: Press Freedom Advocate Chakaodza Decried “Archaic” Media Laws in Last Editorial
The late Zimbabwean veteran journalist Bornwell Chakaodza criticized Zimbabwe’s “archaic” media laws in an oped written three days before his death.
Court confirms legality of freezing Mubarak family assets
An Egyptian court of appeal on Thursday ruled in favor of the government’s decision to freeze assets belonging to toppled President Hosni Mubarak and his family members.
Namibia Succession: Will Hage walk away again this time?
The big question is whether Geingob will accept a different outcome and stay on in the party or he will skip the country again? A worse scenario would be playing the Hidipo Hamutenya stunt and leave Swapo.
Chinese New Year in Pictures – San Francisco
Chinese New Year in Pictures – San Francisco. Photos by Tawanda Kanhema
Mujuru Inquest: I heard ‘gunfire’, Guard Tells Court
A security guard at the late Zimbabwean general, Solomon Mujuru’s property, Clement Runhare, said on Monday he heard what sounded like gunfire two hours before he was alerted that a fire had broken out at the general’s house.
Flying With Gems: AirZim Receives First Airbus Jet
Air Zimbabwe today received the first of three Airbus jets acquired from the French aircraft giant through a controversial deal that opposition partners in the Zimbabwe government have sought to distance themselves from. The airline, which is currently struggling to pay its pilots and engineers, spend several hundred millions of dollars on the acquisition, aimed at [...]
A Tale of Two Democracies: New Hampshire to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has been in power since 1980. During the same period, Story Country, Iowa, has held nine caucuses and the U.S. has had five presidents. Writing for Channel 4 News, journalist Tawanda Kanhema tracks the US presidential caucuses alongside Zimbabwe’s treacherous path to democracy. Read the full story on Channel 4 News.
Iowa Caucuses in Pictures
As the “invisible primary” winds down in rural Iowa, candidates for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination battle to get the most out of this predominantly conservative state, writes journalist Tawanda Kanhema.
Thailand: South African Woman Found With Coccaine in Her Dreadlocks
Nolubabalo Nobanda did not fit the police’s profile of a drug mule. She matriculated from one of South Africa’s top girl’s schools before heading to Wits University.
US$4 Million Getaway for the Obamas
Barack Obama’s annual vacation in Hawaii this year is likely to be his most expensive ever – and the majority of it is being funded by the taxpayer.
In Saif Al Islam Trial, Libya’s Post-Gaddafi Government Sees Chance to Reassert Legitimacy
With no justice system in place yet, the ICC wants to extradite Gaddafi’s son to The Hague… but the Libyan government sees his trial as an opportunity to reassert its legitimacy, setting the stage for what could be the first real test of the post-Gaddafi government’s institutional integrity.