Africa

Day of service honours King's legacy ahead of Obama's inauguration

Obama anticipates trouble sleeping night before inauguration

After 1829, two US churches seek to end racial divide in Washington

After 1829, two US churches seek to end racial divide in WashingtonWashington, Jan. 19 : Two Methodist churches, which have stood on the same block on Capitol Hill for close to two centuries -- one congregation black and the other white, will create history on Tuesday, when they open their doors for the first time to all communities, ending decades of racial segregation.

India calls for enhancing cooperation and dialogue with African Nations.

External Affairs Minister Pranab MukherjeeNew Delhi, Jan 19: Inaugurating a two-day India-Africa Business Partnership summit in New Delhi on Monday, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee called for increased cooperation and dialogue with African nations on crucial global issues, including Jihadi terrorism.

Mukherjee also referred other issues like climate change, food and energy security, health, marine piracy and democratization of financial institutions.

Kenya appeals for aid for 10 million hungry

Kenya NairobiNairobi- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Friday appealed for 470 million dollars to feed 10 million people facing a food shortage in the East African nation.

Kibaki called a national emergency, blaming the shortages on drought, a disruption to planting by last year's post-election violence and high fertilizer costs.

However, the government is also investigating a scandal in which millions of bags of maize imported to address the crisis were allegedly sold on to South Sudan by a cartel involving agricultural ministry officials.

Report: Last Ethiopian forces leave Somali capital

Nairobi/Mogadishu - The last of the Ethiopian troops that have been propping up Somalia's transitional federal government for the last two years have left the Somali capital Mogadishu, reports said Thursday.

Witnesses and officials said that the Ethiopians emptied out all of their bases and quit the capital overnight.

"I can confirm there are not any Ethiopian soldiers in the capital Mogadishu," Abdifitah Ibrahim Sabriye, deputy governor of Banadir Region, told Radio Shabelle.

Ethiopian forces invaded in late 2006 to help kick out the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a hardline Islamist regime that was in power for six months.

Opposition candidate takes early lead in Ghana elections

Nairobi/Accra - Ghana's opposition candidate has taken an slight early lead in the run-off presidential election, Ghanaian media said Monday.

John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has 50.89 per cent of the vote, compared to 49.11 per cent for Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joy Radio said on its website.

The partial results are based on 171 of 230 constituencies.

The electoral commission is expected to release full results by Tuesday afternoon at the latest.

While Sunday's election passed off peacefully, the two parties accused each other of attempting to rig the vote.

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