One dead after blast on Ghana oil refinery pipeline -Source

ACCRA (Reuters) – At least one person has been killed after an explosion on a pipeline linking Ghana’s 45,000 barrel-per-day Tema Oil Refinery to a nearby port, an employee at the refinery said on Tuesday. The employee, who asked not to be named, said a fire had broken out on a 5 km (3 mile) … Read more

Seeking deals, France rolls out red carpet for Angolan president

By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) – French officials welcomed Angola’s president on Tuesday for the first time in 20 years, hailing his economic reforms in the clearest sign yet that Paris is turning its diplomatic focus to winning overseas contracts. Relations were strained in the past decade after the “Angolagate” trial over arms sales to … Read more

Gunmen storm Libyan Parliament, stop lawmakers’ vote on next PM

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Gunmen stormed Libya’s parliament on Tuesday and started shooting, forcing lawmakers to abandon a vote on the country’s next prime minister, a parliamentary spokesman said. Spokesman Omar Hmeidan told Reuters that several people had been wounded by the shooting started by gunmen linked to one of the defeated candidates for prime minister. … Read more

EU Seeks To Avoid South African Citrus Ban: Document

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission has proposed dropping a ban on South African citrus imports but said it could be re-imposed if shipments contain a fungal disease, according to a document obtained by Reuters. The European Union, which buys 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) of South African citrus exports every year, banned mainly oranges, … Read more

Ugandan protest against anti-gay law prior to passing

Uganda planning tougher law limiting gay sex, foreign NGOs

By Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda has drafted a new law that would bar non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from promoting homosexuality, tightening rules further after anti-gay legislation in February was widely condemned as draconian. The draft, now being studied by the cabinet before being introduced in parliament, would also ban foreign NGOs from meddling in … Read more

Suicide bomber in car kills two at army camp in Libya’s Benghazi

BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – A suicide bomber in a car killed at least two people and wounded two others at an army camp in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday, security and medical sources said. A source inside the special forces camp said the car had exploded at the gate. Libyan armed forces have … Read more

At least 14 crushed to death at Congo music festival

KINSHASA (Reuters) – At least 14 people died when a power cut caused a crush at a crowded music festival in Democratic Republic of Congo early on Friday, a local government spokesman said. The crush occurred in Kikwit, around 500 km (300 miles) from the capital Kinshasa, on the first night of a festival organised … Read more

South Africa’s Inequalities strain foundations of “Rainbow Nation”

By Stella Mapenzauswa JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African writer Hagen Engler is candid about the inner racist he had to exorcise during his progression from a carefree youth who reaped the benefits of white minority rule to a man who has lived for 20 years under a black government. The present-day Engler, his black wife … Read more

UN Peacekeepers hit as S Sudan unrest continues

From SAPA The U.N. mission in South Sudan says a convoy of barges it hired to deliver food aid and fuel came under attack by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, wounding four people, including U.N. peacekeepers. The attack on Thursday took place on the Nile River as the barges were traveling to the city of Malakal. South … Read more

Egypt tries to save money on wheat subsidies

By MAGGIE HYDE Associated Press Egypt will try to save half the money it spends on wheat subsidies by issuing a new smart card system to ensure that the cheap bread goes to only the neediest. Egypt is the world’s largest importer of wheat and the country’s supply is subject to price changes on the … Read more