Congolese student Arnold Mutumbo Muama refuses to be cowed by a spate of racist violence towards Africans in India&#39;s capital New Delhi, defiant after a friend was beaten up by security guards at his apartment block. 
 
&quot;The guard called him a &#39;monster&#39; in Hindi before taking him to the basement and beating him,&quot; recalled Muama, 29, who chairs a Congolese welfare association. 
 
Racism against Africans in India was thrown into the spotlight following the brutal stoning to death in May of Congolese national Masunda Kitada Oliver in a dispute over an auto-rickshaw, a motorised three-wheeler. 
 
Following the attack, African ambassadors in New Delhi threatened to recommend to their governments that they don&#39;t send students to the capital &quot;as their security is not guaranteed&quot;. 
 
Around 30,000 Africans live in New Delhi, according to police, and they have told AFP of numerous humiliations they face, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and even violent attacks. 
 
This week, television footage showed police officers in the southern city of Bangalore forcefully restraining a Nigerian woman following an altercation at a market.&nbsp;She was tied up with ropes before being injected with sedatives. 
 
Despite these incidents, IT student Muama believes it is &quot;out of the question to live in fear&quot;. 
 
&quot;You have to be aware of your rights,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;They eat dogs&#39;&nbsp; 
 
In Khirki Extension, a bustling set of interlacing streets in the south of the Indian capital long home to a sizeable Nigerian community, prejudices remain on display. 
 
&quot;The way they eat, drink, live... Everything is different,&quot; said Inderjeet Singh, a real estate agent who has been in the neighbourhood for 15 years.&nbsp;&quot;People say they eat street dogs, families fear they cut their children into pieces and eat them,&quot; the 53-year-old said. 
 
The number of Nigerians living in the district has dwindled since January 2014, when it was the scene of a crackdown by a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti. 
 
Bharti, accompanied by supporters of his anti-corruption party and night vision cameras, took to the streets to denounce an alleged prostitution and drug trafficking network run by Nigerians and Ugandans. 
 
Bharti attempted to force the police to search several apartments, and reportedly ordered four Africans to take urine tests to detect any traces of drugs. 
 
In an attempt to now tackle racist views, India&#39;s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has promised an awareness campaign in neighbourhoods with large numbers of African inhabitants. 
 
&quot;We are trying to break the communication gap between the locals and our African friends,&quot; RP Upadhyay, a senior Delhi Police official in charge of the campaign told AFP. 
 
&quot;We are requesting everyone that whenever anything happens, report it to the police.&quot; 
 
&#39;Good friendships&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The death of the Congolese student comes as India is seeking to charm African nations, seeking to rival China, which has long staked its interest on the continent. 
 
Following an India-Africa summit last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited four African countries in early July. 
 
Nigerian, Cameroonian and Congolese residents in New Delhi interviewed by AFP say that while they encounter difficulties in daily life, many Indians are open and tolerant towards them. 
 
Congolese student Loic Ipanga, 24, believes the &quot;racist reactions&quot; he experiences are often due to ignorance of Africa. 
 
&quot;It is very shocking that every time an Indian sees you, he asks you if you are Nigerian, thinking that because of my skin colour I must be Nigerian,&quot; he says.&nbsp;&quot;This is sometimes a disturbing issue.&quot; 
 
Yet he says he has &quot;very good friendships with Indians, who are willing to get up in the middle of the night to help you&quot;. 
 
&quot;We must act like adults -- mature and wise. You cannot lay a hand on anyone,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP)

30,000 Africans who live in Delhi face numerous humiliations, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and violent attacks

Congolese student Arnold Mutumbo Muama refuses to be cowed by a spate of racist violence towards Africans in India's capital New Delhi, defiant after a friend was beaten up by security guards at his apartment block. "The guard called him a 'monster' in Hindi before taking him to the basement and beating him," recalled Muama, 29, who chairs a Congolese welfare association. Racism against Africans in India was thrown into the spotlight following the brutal stoning to death in May of Congolese national Masunda Kitada Oliver in a dispute over an auto-rickshaw, a motorised three-wheeler. Following the attack, African ambassadors in New Delhi threatened to recommend to their governments that they don't send students to the capital "as their security is not guaranteed". Around 30,000 Africans live in New Delhi, according to police, and they have told AFP of numerous humiliations they face, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and even violent attacks. This week, television footage showed police officers in the southern city of Bangalore forcefully restraining a Nigerian woman following an altercation at a market. She was tied up with ropes before being injected with sedatives. Despite these incidents, IT student Muama believes it is "out of the question to live in fear". "You have to be aware of your rights," he said. 'They eat dogs' In Khirki Extension, a bustling set of interlacing streets in the south of the Indian capital long home to a sizeable Nigerian community, prejudices remain on display. "The way they eat, drink, live... Everything is different," said Inderjeet Singh, a real estate agent who has been in the neighbourhood for 15 years. "People say they eat street dogs, families fear they cut their children into pieces and eat them," the 53-year-old said. The number of Nigerians living in the district has dwindled since January 2014, when it was the scene of a crackdown by a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti. Bharti, accompanied by supporters of his anti-corruption party and night vision cameras, took to the streets to denounce an alleged prostitution and drug trafficking network run by Nigerians and Ugandans. Bharti attempted to force the police to search several apartments, and reportedly ordered four Africans to take urine tests to detect any traces of drugs. In an attempt to now tackle racist views, India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has promised an awareness campaign in neighbourhoods with large numbers of African inhabitants. "We are trying to break the communication gap between the locals and our African friends," RP Upadhyay, a senior Delhi Police official in charge of the campaign told AFP. "We are requesting everyone that whenever anything happens, report it to the police." 'Good friendships' The death of the Congolese student comes as India is seeking to charm African nations, seeking to rival China, which has long staked its interest on the continent. Following an India-Africa summit last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited four African countries in early July. Nigerian, Cameroonian and Congolese residents in New Delhi interviewed by AFP say that while they encounter difficulties in daily life, many Indians are open and tolerant towards them. Congolese student Loic Ipanga, 24, believes the "racist reactions" he experiences are often due to ignorance of Africa. "It is very shocking that every time an Indian sees you, he asks you if you are Nigerian, thinking that because of my skin colour I must be Nigerian," he says. "This is sometimes a disturbing issue." Yet he says he has "very good friendships with Indians, who are willing to get up in the middle of the night to help you". "We must act like adults -- mature and wise. You cannot lay a hand on anyone," he said. (AFP)

Facing racist abuse, Africans in India refuse to give in to fear

Oil prices rebounded in Asia today after tanking nearly five per cent the day before on fresh worries about an oversupply, while traders await the release of key US jobs data. 
 
The commodity plunged Thursday in response to official figures showing US commercial inventories fell less than expected last week, indicating softer demand in the world&#39;s top oil consumer as the crucial driving season kicks in. 
 
The data added to an already downbeat mood on markets as investors worry about the longer-term fallout from Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union (EU). 
 
At around 0650 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 26 cents, or 0.58 per cent, at $45.40 and Brent gained 32 cents, or 0.69 per cent, to $46.72. 
 
WTI plunged 4.8 per cent and Brent sank 4.9 per cent on Thursday after the US Department of Energy (DoE) reported stockpiles fell 2.2 million barrels in the week ending July 1. The market was expecting a 2.5 million barrel drop, according to Bloomberg News. 
 
Both contracts are more than six per cent lower down from last Friday. 
 
The DoE also reported a much smaller than expected decline in petrol stockpiles during the peak summer driving season when Americans take to the road for their holidays. Gasoline stockpiles fell 100,000 barrels, well below the forecast 350,000. 
 
IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw said traders were looking for bargains after Thursday&#39;s &quot;substantial drop&quot; in prices, but added the oversupply concerns will linger. 
 
&quot;What&#39;s even more important was the lack of decline in the gasoline inventories, given that the summer driving season in the US still has two more months to go,&quot; Aw said. 
 
&quot;Traders now fear that we could see a worsening of the supply overhang when summer is over,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
Prices were also given some support after a militant group in Nigeria, Africa&#39;s biggest oil producer, said it attacked more oil infrastructure in the country&#39;s south, ignoring a call for unity from President Muhammadu Buhari. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The data added to an already downbeat mood on markets as investors worry about the longer-term Brexit fallout

Oil prices rebounded in Asia today after tanking nearly five per cent the day before on fresh worries about an oversupply, while traders await the release of key US jobs data. The commodity plunged Thursday in response to official figures showing US commercial inventories fell less than expected last week, indicating softer demand in the world's top oil consumer as the crucial driving season kicks in. The data added to an already downbeat mood on markets as investors worry about the longer-term fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU). At around 0650 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 26 cents, or 0.58 per cent, at $45.40 and Brent gained 32 cents, or 0.69 per cent, to $46.72. WTI plunged 4.8 per cent and Brent sank 4.9 per cent on Thursday after the US Department of Energy (DoE) reported stockpiles fell 2.2 million barrels in the week ending July 1. The market was expecting a 2.5 million barrel drop, according to Bloomberg News. Both contracts are more than six per cent lower down from last Friday. The DoE also reported a much smaller than expected decline in petrol stockpiles during the peak summer driving season when Americans take to the road for their holidays. Gasoline stockpiles fell 100,000 barrels, well below the forecast 350,000. IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw said traders were looking for bargains after Thursday's "substantial drop" in prices, but added the oversupply concerns will linger. "What's even more important was the lack of decline in the gasoline inventories, given that the summer driving season in the US still has two more months to go," Aw said. "Traders now fear that we could see a worsening of the supply overhang when summer is over," he added. Prices were also given some support after a militant group in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, said it attacked more oil infrastructure in the country's south, ignoring a call for unity from President Muhammadu Buhari. (AFP)

Oil prices rebound in Asia as investors await key US jobs data

Thousands of people have fled renewed violence in the Central African Republic to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon, the United Nations said Friday, voicing fears that many more could follow. 
 
The UN refugee agency said that it had helped register 5,643 Central African refugees in Chad, in the villages of Sourouh and Mini next to the border, in recent weeks. 
 
Another 555 refugees had crossed to Yamba village in eastern Cameroon, UNHCR said. 
 
&quot;The exodus began on June 12 when clashes erupted between livestock herders and local arable farmers in and around the north-west town of Ngaoundaye, Ouham Pende region,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
The agency pointed out that such clashes typically occur when herders move their animals across the land, but warned that &quot;this year, disturbingly, rival ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militias have become involved.&quot; 
 
The violence comes as the former French colony struggles to recover from over a year of sectarian bloodletting, which drove half a million people from their homes starting in 2013. 
 
Central African Republic, one of the world&#39;s poorest countries, was plunged into chaos by the ousting in March that year of long-serving president Francois Bozize, a Christian, by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance. 
 
The coup sparked a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks by the Muslim forces and Christian vigilantes known as &quot;anti-balaka&quot; (anti-machete) militias, in which thousands of people were slaughtered. 
 
The trouble has subsided significantly in the past year. 
 
But the UNHCR warned Friday that the new clashes had forced more people from their homes. 
 
Refugees told UNHCR workers they had seen &quot;killings, kidnappings, looting and the torching of their homes,&quot; the agency said. 
 
Most of those fleeing were &quot;exhausted, weak and hungry&quot; and needed &quot;urgent aid&quot;, the refugee body said. 
 
Before the latest upsurge in violence, UNHCR was already helping provide protection to 67,000 Central African refugees in Chad, and 260,000 in Cameroon, with an additional 415,000 people displaced inside the country. 
 
The agency said it had appealed for $225.5 million to finance its operations linked to the Central African Republic crisis this year, but so far has only received $24.7 million. 
 
(AFP)

The violence comes as the former French colony struggles to recover from over a year of sectarian bloodletting

Thousands of people have fled renewed violence in the Central African Republic to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon, the United Nations said Friday, voicing fears that many more could follow. The UN refugee agency said that it had helped register 5,643 Central African refugees in Chad, in the villages of Sourouh and Mini next to the border, in recent weeks. Another 555 refugees had crossed to Yamba village in eastern Cameroon, UNHCR said. "The exodus began on June 12 when clashes erupted between livestock herders and local arable farmers in and around the north-west town of Ngaoundaye, Ouham Pende region," it said in a statement. The agency pointed out that such clashes typically occur when herders move their animals across the land, but warned that "this year, disturbingly, rival ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militias have become involved." The violence comes as the former French colony struggles to recover from over a year of sectarian bloodletting, which drove half a million people from their homes starting in 2013. Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest countries, was plunged into chaos by the ousting in March that year of long-serving president Francois Bozize, a Christian, by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance. The coup sparked a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks by the Muslim forces and Christian vigilantes known as "anti-balaka" (anti-machete) militias, in which thousands of people were slaughtered. The trouble has subsided significantly in the past year. But the UNHCR warned Friday that the new clashes had forced more people from their homes. Refugees told UNHCR workers they had seen "killings, kidnappings, looting and the torching of their homes," the agency said. Most of those fleeing were "exhausted, weak and hungry" and needed "urgent aid", the refugee body said. Before the latest upsurge in violence, UNHCR was already helping provide protection to 67,000 Central African refugees in Chad, and 260,000 in Cameroon, with an additional 415,000 people displaced inside the country. The agency said it had appealed for $225.5 million to finance its operations linked to the Central African Republic crisis this year, but so far has only received $24.7 million. (AFP)

Thousands flee renewed central Africa violence: UN

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head to Africa on Thursday, seeking to boost his country&#39;s economic influence in a region long dominated by rival Asian power China. 
 
India has been working to improve ties with African nations as it vies for a greater share of the continent&#39;s natural resources. Last year, it hosted a major summit of Africa&#39;s heads of state in New Delhi. 
 
Modi will head first to Mozambique, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years, before travelling on to South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. 
 
&quot;The visit marks an unprecedented diplomatic outreach to the African continent and underlines the importance that India places on forging a multi-layered relationship with a rising continent,&quot; political analyst Manish Chand said. 
 
&quot;The visit is not going to be just about the optics. It is underpinned by a substantive agenda encompassing all areas of interest - economic as well as strategic,&quot; said Chand, the editor of Africa Quarterly. 
 
India&#39;s economic presence in Africa is dwarfed by that of China, whose trade with the continent topped $200 billion last year - more than the GDP of the 30 smallest African economies combined. 
 
But it is gaining ground, dominated by the energy sector and led by private entrepreneurs.&nbsp;India is now South Africa&#39;s sixth largest trade partner, with two-way trade reaching $5.3 billion in 2015-16. 
 
South Africa has also been vocal on the need to reform the UN security council, making it a natural ally in India&#39;s long-running campaign to be made a permanent member. 
 
India and Africa are together home to a third of the world&#39;s population, but neither India nor any African country has a permanent seat on the council, which is made up of China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. 
 
&quot;South Africa is seen as a representative of the continent,&quot; said Chand.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s a part of the BRICS grouping and has been shaping the global discourse.&quot; 
 
With 1.3 million people of Indian origin, it also has the largest diaspora population in Africa, a major element of Modi&#39;s diplomatic push across the world since taking office two years ago. 
 
On Friday, he will address a thousands-strong audience at a stadium in Johannesburg, having hosted similar rallies for the diaspora in cities from New York to London. 
 
India&#39;s foreign ministry sought to downplay any rivalry with China and denied New Delhi had neglected the continent in the past. 
 
&quot;(Relations between India and Africa) are like the two banks of the river which are apart but never separate. We are trying to bridge that,&quot; said Amar Sinha, secretary for economic relations in the foreign ministry. 
 
&quot;Africa is a huge continent, it has tremendous requirement for development assistance and infrastructure building. Everybody can chip in.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

First visit by an Indian PM in 34 years. China's trade with Africa touched $200 billion last year, whereas India captured only $5.3 billion

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head to Africa on Thursday, seeking to boost his country's economic influence in a region long dominated by rival Asian power China. India has been working to improve ties with African nations as it vies for a greater share of the continent's natural resources. Last year, it hosted a major summit of Africa's heads of state in New Delhi. Modi will head first to Mozambique, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years, before travelling on to South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. "The visit marks an unprecedented diplomatic outreach to the African continent and underlines the importance that India places on forging a multi-layered relationship with a rising continent," political analyst Manish Chand said. "The visit is not going to be just about the optics. It is underpinned by a substantive agenda encompassing all areas of interest - economic as well as strategic," said Chand, the editor of Africa Quarterly. India's economic presence in Africa is dwarfed by that of China, whose trade with the continent topped $200 billion last year - more than the GDP of the 30 smallest African economies combined. But it is gaining ground, dominated by the energy sector and led by private entrepreneurs. India is now South Africa's sixth largest trade partner, with two-way trade reaching $5.3 billion in 2015-16. South Africa has also been vocal on the need to reform the UN security council, making it a natural ally in India's long-running campaign to be made a permanent member. India and Africa are together home to a third of the world's population, but neither India nor any African country has a permanent seat on the council, which is made up of China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. "South Africa is seen as a representative of the continent," said Chand. "It's a part of the BRICS grouping and has been shaping the global discourse." With 1.3 million people of Indian origin, it also has the largest diaspora population in Africa, a major element of Modi's diplomatic push across the world since taking office two years ago. On Friday, he will address a thousands-strong audience at a stadium in Johannesburg, having hosted similar rallies for the diaspora in cities from New York to London. India's foreign ministry sought to downplay any rivalry with China and denied New Delhi had neglected the continent in the past. "(Relations between India and Africa) are like the two banks of the river which are apart but never separate. We are trying to bridge that," said Amar Sinha, secretary for economic relations in the foreign ministry. "Africa is a huge continent, it has tremendous requirement for development assistance and infrastructure building. Everybody can chip in." (AFP)

Indian PM Modi heads to Africa with an eye on China

South Africa&#39;s competition tribunal today approved the buyout of SABMiller by the world&#39;s top brewer AB InBev, subject to conditions, paving the way towards completion of the huge deal. 
 
Conditions include the sale of SABMiller&#39;s stake in Distell Group, as South Africa&#39;s regulator moved to protect competition and prevent job losses in the country&#39;s struggling economy. 
 
AB InBev&#39;s acquisition of the London-based SABMiller was valued at $121 billion when it was announced in November and in line to be the third largest in history if it clears all regulatory hurdles. 
 
However, it is now worth considerably less given the plunge in the value of the pound after Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union. 
 
Current exchange rates put the value of the acquisition around $106.5 billion for Belgium-based AB InBev. 
 
&quot;The competition tribunal approved the merger between beer giants Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and SABMiller plc subject to wide ranging conditions designed to address both public interest and competition concerns,&quot; the tribunal said in a statement. 
 
AB InBev, brewer of Stella Artois and Budweiser, secured approval from EU and Australian regulators in May. 
 
Clearance has also been granted by several other countries including India, South Korea, Mexico and Chile. 
 
The acquisition is poised to get approval from both the US justice department and China&#39;s ministry of commerce, Bloomberg reported today. &quot;We are delighted by the competition tribunal&#39;s decision to approve our proposed combination with SABMiller in South Africa, a market that would play a critical role in the combined company,&quot; the company said. 
 
&quot;We recognise South African Breweries important contribution to the country&#39;s economy and society and look forward to building on this through the commitments we have made on jobs,&quot; the company added. 
 
Isaac Matshego, economist at Nedbank, said he hoped the takeover would bring investment into South Africa and boost local production infrastructure. 
 
&quot;If it does go through, AB InBev could use South Africa as its base for expansion to the rest of the continent, in that way preserving the thin job market,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Naturally, everyone is concerned about jobs at the moment and it is important that AB InBev finds our local market attractive enough for investment,&quot; Matshego said. 
 
AB InBev sees the buyout of SABMiller as a key way to counterweight falling beer demand in big markets by building its presence in Africa and other regions where sales are rising. 
 
SABMiller, which generates nearly a third of its profits from Africa, operates in 15 African countries, and has a stake in 22 others through a partnership with French firm Castel. 
 
The company has its roots in supplying beer to miners during the 1886 Johannesburg gold rush. 
 
In April, AB InBev said it would sell SABMiller&#39;s stake in leading Chinese beermaker Snow Breweries, in a move that appeared aimed at persuading Chinese regulators to sign off on the giant merger deal. 
 
(AFP)

AB InBev's buyout of SABMiller to counter falling beer demand in big markets by establishing presence in Africa where sales are on the rise

South Africa's competition tribunal today approved the buyout of SABMiller by the world's top brewer AB InBev, subject to conditions, paving the way towards completion of the huge deal. Conditions include the sale of SABMiller's stake in Distell Group, as South Africa's regulator moved to protect competition and prevent job losses in the country's struggling economy. AB InBev's acquisition of the London-based SABMiller was valued at $121 billion when it was announced in November and in line to be the third largest in history if it clears all regulatory hurdles. However, it is now worth considerably less given the plunge in the value of the pound after Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Current exchange rates put the value of the acquisition around $106.5 billion for Belgium-based AB InBev. "The competition tribunal approved the merger between beer giants Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and SABMiller plc subject to wide ranging conditions designed to address both public interest and competition concerns," the tribunal said in a statement. AB InBev, brewer of Stella Artois and Budweiser, secured approval from EU and Australian regulators in May. Clearance has also been granted by several other countries including India, South Korea, Mexico and Chile. The acquisition is poised to get approval from both the US justice department and China's ministry of commerce, Bloomberg reported today. "We are delighted by the competition tribunal's decision to approve our proposed combination with SABMiller in South Africa, a market that would play a critical role in the combined company," the company said. "We recognise South African Breweries important contribution to the country's economy and society and look forward to building on this through the commitments we have made on jobs," the company added. Isaac Matshego, economist at Nedbank, said he hoped the takeover would bring investment into South Africa and boost local production infrastructure. "If it does go through, AB InBev could use South Africa as its base for expansion to the rest of the continent, in that way preserving the thin job market," he said. "Naturally, everyone is concerned about jobs at the moment and it is important that AB InBev finds our local market attractive enough for investment," Matshego said. AB InBev sees the buyout of SABMiller as a key way to counterweight falling beer demand in big markets by building its presence in Africa and other regions where sales are rising. SABMiller, which generates nearly a third of its profits from Africa, operates in 15 African countries, and has a stake in 22 others through a partnership with French firm Castel. The company has its roots in supplying beer to miners during the 1886 Johannesburg gold rush. In April, AB InBev said it would sell SABMiller's stake in leading Chinese beermaker Snow Breweries, in a move that appeared aimed at persuading Chinese regulators to sign off on the giant merger deal. (AFP)

South Africa approves takeover of SABMiller by top brewer AB InBev

Two people were killed and more than 80 wounded in a grenade attack in Madagascar`s capital Sunday during the country`s national day celebrations, in what the president called &quot;an act of terrorism&quot;. 
 
The blast struck the Mahamasina municipal stadium in Antananarivo at around 1600 GMT, just as a free concert was taking place to mark the nation`s 56th anniversary of independence from France. 
 
President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who visited the injured victims in hospital, blamed the attack on tensions with political opponents in the Indian Ocean island nation. 
 
&quot;There may be differences of opinion between us, but these acts of destabilisation are unacceptable,&quot; he said in a statement broadcast on national television, describing the attack as &quot;not just a destabilising act but an act of terrorism&quot;. 
 
Pleading for calm, he added: &quot;We will not respond to violence with violence.&quot; 
 
According to the gendarmerie, the attack killed two teenagers aged 16 and 18, while 84 people were injured. 
 
A military parade was held at the stadium earlier in the day. 
 
&quot;The explosion was caused by a grenade,&quot; general Anthony Rakotoarison, head of security and intelligence with the national gendarmerie, told AFP by phone. 
 
&quot;We consider this a terrorist act,&quot; he added. 
 
The last attack to hit Madagascar was in January 2014 when a grenade blast killed a toddler and injured several other people outside the same stadium targeted on Sunday. 
 
No arrests were ever made in connection with that attack and there was no claim of responsibility. 
 
Madagascar, one of the world`s poorest countries, is slowly getting back on its feet after a lengthy period of political instability triggered by the 2009 ouster of president Marc Ravalomanana by Antananarivo`s then-mayor Andry Rajoelina. 
 
Rajoelina led a transitional government until late 2013, when a new election that was designed to resolve complex struggles brought Rajaonarimampianina to power. 
 
International donors, on which the country relies heavily, only recently returned to Madagascar after withdrawing over the 2009 turmoil, and the economy is starting to show the first signs of recovery. 
 
(AFP)

President Hery Rajaonarimampianina blamed the attack on tensions with political opponents in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Two people were killed and more than 80 wounded in a grenade attack in Madagascar`s capital Sunday during the country`s national day celebrations, in what the president called "an act of terrorism". The blast struck the Mahamasina municipal stadium in Antananarivo at around 1600 GMT, just as a free concert was taking place to mark the nation`s 56th anniversary of independence from France. President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who visited the injured victims in hospital, blamed the attack on tensions with political opponents in the Indian Ocean island nation. "There may be differences of opinion between us, but these acts of destabilisation are unacceptable," he said in a statement broadcast on national television, describing the attack as "not just a destabilising act but an act of terrorism". Pleading for calm, he added: "We will not respond to violence with violence." According to the gendarmerie, the attack killed two teenagers aged 16 and 18, while 84 people were injured. A military parade was held at the stadium earlier in the day. "The explosion was caused by a grenade," general Anthony Rakotoarison, head of security and intelligence with the national gendarmerie, told AFP by phone. "We consider this a terrorist act," he added. The last attack to hit Madagascar was in January 2014 when a grenade blast killed a toddler and injured several other people outside the same stadium targeted on Sunday. No arrests were ever made in connection with that attack and there was no claim of responsibility. Madagascar, one of the world`s poorest countries, is slowly getting back on its feet after a lengthy period of political instability triggered by the 2009 ouster of president Marc Ravalomanana by Antananarivo`s then-mayor Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina led a transitional government until late 2013, when a new election that was designed to resolve complex struggles brought Rajaonarimampianina to power. International donors, on which the country relies heavily, only recently returned to Madagascar after withdrawing over the 2009 turmoil, and the economy is starting to show the first signs of recovery. (AFP)

Two killed, 80 injured in Madagascar terror blast

Around 5,000 migrants were rescued from rubber dingies in the Mediterranean on Thursday, the Italian coastguard said, averting a potential high seas disaster. 
 
A coastguard spokesman pointed out it appeared many people had left the Libyan coast to attempt the perilous voyage across the sea to Europe during a spell of good weather. 
 
&quot;Around 5,000 people were saved in 43 rescue operations,&quot; the coastguard said in a statement. 
 
A body was found on board one of the rubber dinghies, a coastguard spokesman told AFP earlier. 
 
&quot;We registered a large number of voyages today, after several days of bad weather at sea had stopped people leaving Libya,&quot; the spokesman added. 
 
Most of the migrants were on the dinghies, while three wooden boats were being used by Libyan people traffickers, the coastguard said. 
 
The Italian navy also noted a mass movement of boats in the Mediterranean from &quot;the first light of dawn.&quot; 
 
Five Italian navy ships took part in the rescue operations, together with two vessels from the EU&#39;s Operation Sophia, which was set up to combat human smuggling in the Mediterranean, and another four from humanitarian organisations. 
 
More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures published earlier this month. 
 
This year alone more than 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers from Africa have managed to complete the journey to Italy, a country that, like Greece, acts mainly as a gateway to northern Europe for most of the newcomers. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures

Around 5,000 migrants were rescued from rubber dingies in the Mediterranean on Thursday, the Italian coastguard said, averting a potential high seas disaster. A coastguard spokesman pointed out it appeared many people had left the Libyan coast to attempt the perilous voyage across the sea to Europe during a spell of good weather. "Around 5,000 people were saved in 43 rescue operations," the coastguard said in a statement. A body was found on board one of the rubber dinghies, a coastguard spokesman told AFP earlier. "We registered a large number of voyages today, after several days of bad weather at sea had stopped people leaving Libya," the spokesman added. Most of the migrants were on the dinghies, while three wooden boats were being used by Libyan people traffickers, the coastguard said. The Italian navy also noted a mass movement of boats in the Mediterranean from "the first light of dawn." Five Italian navy ships took part in the rescue operations, together with two vessels from the EU's Operation Sophia, which was set up to combat human smuggling in the Mediterranean, and another four from humanitarian organisations. More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures published earlier this month. This year alone more than 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers from Africa have managed to complete the journey to Italy, a country that, like Greece, acts mainly as a gateway to northern Europe for most of the newcomers. (AFP)

5,000 migrants rescued from rubber dingies in Mediterranean

Protesters burnt vehicles and set tires on fire to barricade roads in South Africa&#39;s capital on Tuesday, June 21, after the ANC named a mayoral candidate not nominated by the ruling party&#39;s regional branches. 
 
The violence spread overnight from the townships and started after a member of the African National Congress (ANC) was shot dead on Sunday, June 19, as factions clashed at a meeting in Pretoria to decide on the candidates for mayor of Tshwane municipality, where Pretoria is located. 
 
The ANC then named senior party member and former cabinet minister, Thoko Didiza, as its candidate for Tshwane, saying that it made the decision after wrangling between members at the party&#39;s headquarters over who should lead the municipality. 
 
According to local media, residents want the incumbent mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa to be allowed to run on the ANC ticket but Ramokgopa has publicly backed Didiza&#39;s selection and called for calm. 
 
The ANC said its members were not to blame for the violence. 
 
Local elections in August pose a major test for the ANC as it gears up for a 2019 presidential vote in the face of a slowing economy and a strong challenge from the opposition 
 
(Reuters)

The violence spread overnight, starting after a member of the African National Congress was shot dead on Sunday

Protesters burnt vehicles and set tires on fire to barricade roads in South Africa's capital on Tuesday, June 21, after the ANC named a mayoral candidate not nominated by the ruling party's regional branches. The violence spread overnight from the townships and started after a member of the African National Congress (ANC) was shot dead on Sunday, June 19, as factions clashed at a meeting in Pretoria to decide on the candidates for mayor of Tshwane municipality, where Pretoria is located. The ANC then named senior party member and former cabinet minister, Thoko Didiza, as its candidate for Tshwane, saying that it made the decision after wrangling between members at the party's headquarters over who should lead the municipality. According to local media, residents want the incumbent mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa to be allowed to run on the ANC ticket but Ramokgopa has publicly backed Didiza's selection and called for calm. The ANC said its members were not to blame for the violence. Local elections in August pose a major test for the ANC as it gears up for a 2019 presidential vote in the face of a slowing economy and a strong challenge from the opposition (Reuters)

Protesters in Pretoria burn cars, tires after unnominated man becomes mayoral candidate

Twenty-two years after the end of apartheid, classical dance, confined to South Africa&#39;s white minority for decades, is finally finding its feet in the country&#39;s black townships.&nbsp; 
 
In a Soweto dance studio with yellowing mirrors, enthusiastic ballet students practise their first positions and plies in socks at the barre 
 
&quot;We have beautiful contemporary dancers but not classical dancers,&quot; shares, Dirk Badenhorst, head of the South African International Ballet Competition, seeking out rising stars across the continent. He is also trying to shake things up with this new project to train township dance teachers in classical ballet. 
 
Elucidating how teachers and students are sharing their love for ballet in this Soweto studio, he shares how the dearth of black talent can be attributed to the history of the region.&nbsp;&quot;Ballet was only for white people .. and the ballet was only taught in the traditional white areas,&quot; underlines Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
 
&#39;Up, up, up. Stomach!&#39;&nbsp; 
Lessons take place in the heart of Soweto, a hop and a skip from the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to a key moment in the fight against apartheid, the uprising led by high school students in 1976. 
 
&quot;Up, up, up. Stomach, more, back,&quot; says classical teacher Maria de Torguet, pointing at a less-than-perfectly-poised back or a lazily-held head among her eight students, all black adults. 
 
&quot;When I grew up .. there was no ballet in townships. We had to go out in the town and pay for the lessons,&quot; says one of them, Mmule Mokgele, taking a break between exercises at the barre. 
 
&quot;I am happy for my kids because ballet is coming to the township,&quot; she adds. 
 
Aged 34, Mmule teaches contemporary dance and Afro-fusion in Soweto in a run-down school, whose yard has been turned into a car wash. But she decided to get trained to teach classical. 
 
&quot;Once you get to learn ballet, it disciplines you mentally, physically, it is easier for you to learn other dances,&quot; points out Mmule, short-cropped hair dyed red, with a baggy T-shirt and muscled legs beneath her black leggings. 
 
Every Tuesday morning, she endlessly repeats the first position, plies and works on holding her arms under Maria&#39;s attentive but relentless gaze. In the afternoon, she teaches her 10-year-old students what she learned in the morning. 
 
&#39;Without love nothing succeeds&#39;&nbsp; 
&lsquo;It is often said that if you are a brilliant scientist you are not necessarily a brilliant science teacher . It is the same with ballet,&rsquo; opines Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
He adds saying that undertaking the ballet training as a student and later training others makes a teacher more empathetic towards the children. &nbsp;&ldquo;They have a better understanding as how to explain and encourage the kids in what to do and how to do it,&quot; he explains.&nbsp; 
 
With his project, which aims to train a thousand teachers over the next three years, teachers and students are taking the same path together, shares Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
Maria, brought in from Cuba, a country with close ties to South Africa in areas including politics and dance, is a patient instructor. With a firm voice, she asks one student to take off a scarf, another to remove a hood. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s very difficult to teach them classical. In Cuba, teachers have studied classical dance for at least eight years,&quot; adds the petite 58-year-old brunette. 
 
&quot;Not here. I teach them to hold their bodies well. Concentration is also important, as much as passion. Without love nothing succeeds.&quot; 
 
Ballet for men? 
Under this project, many male ballerinas are also honing their dancing skills to grace the stage as they learn the techniques.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;My friends are, like, why are you doing ballet? Why don&#39;t you find something that would suit you as a man? But I love dancing,&quot; shares fellow student Ncepa Sitokwe, whose body is already toned by years of African dancing. 
 
&quot;Our traditional dancers did not expose us, with our African dances, we only do gigs to be seen when there is something celebrated. With this methodology, you are going to be seen outside South Africa,&quot; he added. 
 
Amid the dancers perfecting their turns, Badenhorst nurtures a dream. &quot;When Benjamin Millepied was the director of the Paris Opera, he was talking about the lack of transformation in the Paris Opera,&quot; he confides, referring to the dearth of non-white dancers. 
 
&quot;So I would love in 8 years or 10 years the young kids from this project to land up in the Paris Opera, he sums up.&nbsp; 
(AFP)

Lessons take place in heart of Soweto, close to the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to the fight against apartheid

Twenty-two years after the end of apartheid, classical dance, confined to South Africa's white minority for decades, is finally finding its feet in the country's black townships. In a Soweto dance studio with yellowing mirrors, enthusiastic ballet students practise their first positions and plies in socks at the barre "We have beautiful contemporary dancers but not classical dancers," shares, Dirk Badenhorst, head of the South African International Ballet Competition, seeking out rising stars across the continent. He is also trying to shake things up with this new project to train township dance teachers in classical ballet. Elucidating how teachers and students are sharing their love for ballet in this Soweto studio, he shares how the dearth of black talent can be attributed to the history of the region. "Ballet was only for white people .. and the ballet was only taught in the traditional white areas," underlines Badenhorst. 'Up, up, up. Stomach!' Lessons take place in the heart of Soweto, a hop and a skip from the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to a key moment in the fight against apartheid, the uprising led by high school students in 1976. "Up, up, up. Stomach, more, back," says classical teacher Maria de Torguet, pointing at a less-than-perfectly-poised back or a lazily-held head among her eight students, all black adults. "When I grew up .. there was no ballet in townships. We had to go out in the town and pay for the lessons," says one of them, Mmule Mokgele, taking a break between exercises at the barre. "I am happy for my kids because ballet is coming to the township," she adds. Aged 34, Mmule teaches contemporary dance and Afro-fusion in Soweto in a run-down school, whose yard has been turned into a car wash. But she decided to get trained to teach classical. "Once you get to learn ballet, it disciplines you mentally, physically, it is easier for you to learn other dances," points out Mmule, short-cropped hair dyed red, with a baggy T-shirt and muscled legs beneath her black leggings. Every Tuesday morning, she endlessly repeats the first position, plies and works on holding her arms under Maria's attentive but relentless gaze. In the afternoon, she teaches her 10-year-old students what she learned in the morning. 'Without love nothing succeeds' ‘It is often said that if you are a brilliant scientist you are not necessarily a brilliant science teacher . It is the same with ballet,’ opines Badenhorst. He adds saying that undertaking the ballet training as a student and later training others makes a teacher more empathetic towards the children. “They have a better understanding as how to explain and encourage the kids in what to do and how to do it," he explains. With his project, which aims to train a thousand teachers over the next three years, teachers and students are taking the same path together, shares Badenhorst. Maria, brought in from Cuba, a country with close ties to South Africa in areas including politics and dance, is a patient instructor. With a firm voice, she asks one student to take off a scarf, another to remove a hood. "It's very difficult to teach them classical. In Cuba, teachers have studied classical dance for at least eight years," adds the petite 58-year-old brunette. "Not here. I teach them to hold their bodies well. Concentration is also important, as much as passion. Without love nothing succeeds." Ballet for men? Under this project, many male ballerinas are also honing their dancing skills to grace the stage as they learn the techniques. "My friends are, like, why are you doing ballet? Why don't you find something that would suit you as a man? But I love dancing," shares fellow student Ncepa Sitokwe, whose body is already toned by years of African dancing. "Our traditional dancers did not expose us, with our African dances, we only do gigs to be seen when there is something celebrated. With this methodology, you are going to be seen outside South Africa," he added. Amid the dancers perfecting their turns, Badenhorst nurtures a dream. "When Benjamin Millepied was the director of the Paris Opera, he was talking about the lack of transformation in the Paris Opera," he confides, referring to the dearth of non-white dancers. "So I would love in 8 years or 10 years the young kids from this project to land up in the Paris Opera, he sums up. (AFP)

Classical dance finding feet in South Africa's black townships

&nbsp;Al Shabaab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya today, a regional official said. 
 
&quot;We condemn the attack by al Shabaab at Dimu this morning five police officers killed. The info about their presence was long shared by the locals,&quot; Mandera county governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account. 
(Reuters)

Mandera county governor Ali Roba condemned the attack at Dimu and said locals alerted the authorities

Al Shabaab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya today, a regional official said. "We condemn the attack by al Shabaab at Dimu this morning five police officers killed. The info about their presence was long shared by the locals," Mandera county governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account. (Reuters)

5 police officers killed by al-Shabaab militants in Kenya

At least 17 million women and girls in Africa collect water every day, which increases their risk of sexual abuse, disease and dropping out of school, a study published recently has found.

It is one of the first studies to calculate how many women and children were responsible for water collection in Africa, the researchers said.

Using datasets from the World Bank, the UN&nbsp;children&#39;s agency UNICEF, and the US&nbsp;Agency for International Development, researchers found that around 3 million children and 14 million women collect water in sub-Saharan Africa.

&quot;The absolute number of adult females affected by this practice was a shock to me,&quot; Jay Graham, lead author of the study, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

&quot;I knew it would be large... but I didn&#39;t realise it would be that high,&quot; added Graham, who is professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University.

The daily practice causes musculoskeletal damage, soft tissue damage and can lead to early arthritis, Graham said.

People also have to contend with water-borne diseases like schistosomiasis, an infection caused by parasitic worms living in fresh water, he said.

Across all 24 countries examined, including Sierra Leone, Malawi and Niger, more girls were tasked with water collection than boys. Women were also the primary water collector in all countries.

Children are pulled out of school for the daily task, and many women cannot earn an income because of the time and energy it takes to collect water, Graham said.

Since they often need to walk long distances to find water, women and children are also at a higher risk of sexual abuse, he added.

In a statement issued last month, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone said drought was putting even more pressure on children to find water.

&quot;Children, particularly girls, are out in the street very late at night or as early as 4a.m. in search of water,&quot; the statement read.

&quot;This heightens their vulnerability and contributes to increase in teenage pregnancy, child labour, high rates of school drop outs, and poor school performance,&quot; it said.

Demand for water is expected to increase by 2050 as the world&#39;s population is forecast to grow by one-third to more than 9 billion, according to the United Nations.

As climate change strengthens, drought is becoming more frequent and severe in southern Africa, and that &ndash; combined with this year&#39;s El Nino phenomenon &ndash; is taking a heavy toll on rural lives and economies.

&quot;With climate change, it&#39;s going to be more of an uphill battle,&quot; said Graham. &quot;If there&#39;s focused attention on it and resources, we can improve upon the situation but I do think it&#39;s going to become more difficult.&quot;

But it also crucial to address gender inequality and to recognise the unpaid labour that women do across the globe, he said, which he believes is the underlying issue.

&quot;There is a need to address cultural values and really shifting the belief that women and men are equal too.&quot;

Many have to travel real far to collect water, thus exposing them to the risk of being sexually abused. And there is the added threat of a water-borne disease and other ailments.

At least 17 million women and girls in Africa collect water every day, which increases their risk of sexual abuse, disease and dropping out of school, a study published recently has found. It is one of the first studies to calculate how many women and children were responsible for water collection in Africa, the researchers said. Using datasets from the World Bank, the UN children's agency UNICEF, and the US Agency for International Development, researchers found that around 3 million children and 14 million women collect water in sub-Saharan Africa. "The absolute number of adult females affected by this practice was a shock to me," Jay Graham, lead author of the study, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "I knew it would be large... but I didn't realise it would be that high," added Graham, who is professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. The daily practice causes musculoskeletal damage, soft tissue damage and can lead to early arthritis, Graham said. People also have to contend with water-borne diseases like schistosomiasis, an infection caused by parasitic worms living in fresh water, he said. Across all 24 countries examined, including Sierra Leone, Malawi and Niger, more girls were tasked with water collection than boys. Women were also the primary water collector in all countries. Children are pulled out of school for the daily task, and many women cannot earn an income because of the time and energy it takes to collect water, Graham said. Since they often need to walk long distances to find water, women and children are also at a higher risk of sexual abuse, he added. In a statement issued last month, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone said drought was putting even more pressure on children to find water. "Children, particularly girls, are out in the street very late at night or as early as 4a.m. in search of water," the statement read. "This heightens their vulnerability and contributes to increase in teenage pregnancy, child labour, high rates of school drop outs, and poor school performance," it said. Demand for water is expected to increase by 2050 as the world's population is forecast to grow by one-third to more than 9 billion, according to the United Nations. As climate change strengthens, drought is becoming more frequent and severe in southern Africa, and that – combined with this year's El Nino phenomenon – is taking a heavy toll on rural lives and economies. "With climate change, it's going to be more of an uphill battle," said Graham. "If there's focused attention on it and resources, we can improve upon the situation but I do think it's going to become more difficult." But it also crucial to address gender inequality and to recognise the unpaid labour that women do across the globe, he said, which he believes is the underlying issue. "There is a need to address cultural values and really shifting the belief that women and men are equal too."

The risks more than 17 million African women and girls have to take to fetch water

Boys are slightly more likely to be sexually abused than girls in South&nbsp;Africa, where a third of all children have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to the first-ever national study of child maltreatment.

Nearly 37 percent of boys and 34 percent of girls have been sexually abused by the age of 17, either physically or in non-physical ways - such as being forced to watch sexual acts, look at genitalia or explicit material.

Girls were more likely to have been sexually abused physically and boys more likely to have experienced non-contact sexual abuse, researchers said in the study published on Tuesday.

&quot;Even though the forms the abuse takes may differ it can nonetheless be equally harmful to the victim and should be treated just as seriously,&quot; Ian Welle-Skitt, spokesman for UBS Optimus Foundation which commissioned the research.

&quot;This study puts South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;in line with the rest of the world, and challenges the myth that South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;is a more violent society than others,&quot; Welle-Skitt&nbsp;told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A similar study carried out in Switzerland by UBS Optimus Foundation found that abuse between peers and cyber-abuse was higher there than in South&nbsp;Africa.

There were more than 350,000 cases of sexual abuse among children in South&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;last year, according to researchers from the University of Cape Town, and the Cape Town-based Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, who carried out the study.

Only 31 percent of girls and no boys reported sexual abuse to the police. Young males were especially reluctant to report any form of abuse, the researchers found.

&quot;The sexual abuse and maltreatment of children is preventable, but until now, a lack of data has hindered the development of systems needed to protect and support children,&quot; researchers&nbsp;said.

The study found that when parents knew who their children spent time with and where, they were less likely to become victims of sexual abuse.&nbsp;A&nbsp;supportive relationship between parents and their daughters also significantly lowered the risk for girls.

The researchers&nbsp;recommended that teachers be trained in school safety and that children have classes on sex, gender and violence.&nbsp;They also found substance abuse played an important role.

&quot;Since parental substance misuse is associated with sexual abuse of children, one key preventive strategy is to make substance abuse treatment programmes far more widely available and accessible than they are at present,&quot; the researchers said.

A third of all children in the country have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime

Boys are slightly more likely to be sexually abused than girls in South Africa, where a third of all children have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to the first-ever national study of child maltreatment. Nearly 37 percent of boys and 34 percent of girls have been sexually abused by the age of 17, either physically or in non-physical ways - such as being forced to watch sexual acts, look at genitalia or explicit material. Girls were more likely to have been sexually abused physically and boys more likely to have experienced non-contact sexual abuse, researchers said in the study published on Tuesday. "Even though the forms the abuse takes may differ it can nonetheless be equally harmful to the victim and should be treated just as seriously," Ian Welle-Skitt, spokesman for UBS Optimus Foundation which commissioned the research. "This study puts South Africa in line with the rest of the world, and challenges the myth that South Africa is a more violent society than others," Welle-Skitt told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A similar study carried out in Switzerland by UBS Optimus Foundation found that abuse between peers and cyber-abuse was higher there than in South Africa. There were more than 350,000 cases of sexual abuse among children in South Africa last year, according to researchers from the University of Cape Town, and the Cape Town-based Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, who carried out the study. Only 31 percent of girls and no boys reported sexual abuse to the police. Young males were especially reluctant to report any form of abuse, the researchers found. "The sexual abuse and maltreatment of children is preventable, but until now, a lack of data has hindered the development of systems needed to protect and support children," researchers said. The study found that when parents knew who their children spent time with and where, they were less likely to become victims of sexual abuse. A supportive relationship between parents and their daughters also significantly lowered the risk for girls. The researchers recommended that teachers be trained in school safety and that children have classes on sex, gender and violence. They also found substance abuse played an important role. "Since parental substance misuse is associated with sexual abuse of children, one key preventive strategy is to make substance abuse treatment programmes far more widely available and accessible than they are at present," the researchers said.

In South Africa, boys more likely to be sexually abused than girls: researchers

The latest outbreak of Ebola in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization said today, warning that a recurrence of the killer tropical disease still remained a threat.&nbsp; 
The last known Ebola patient in the west African country was discharged from hospital in April.&nbsp; 
WHO has declared the end to an outbreak, also known as the end to viral transmission, 42 days after the last known patient was tested negative for the second time.&nbsp; 
&quot;WHO commends the Government of Guinea and its people on ending this Ebola outbreak,&quot; said Abou Bekr Gaye, the UN agency`s representative in Guinea.&nbsp; 
He called for vigilance to &quot;stop any new cases that may occur.&quot; 
In the three countries hit hardest by the Ebola crisis -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- fresh cases emerged after an outbreak was declared over.&nbsp; 
The worst-ever Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013 and went on to kill more than 11,300 people, devastating economies and health systems in the worst affected countries, while testing the world`s capacity to respond to a global health emergency.&nbsp;

An outbreak of Ebola virus in Guinea, which was earlier confined to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, was the first ever outbreak in a west African country. Since March 2014, West Africa has had the largest outbreak in history, with countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea being the worst affected.

The latest outbreak of Ebola in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization said today, warning that a recurrence of the killer tropical disease still remained a threat. The last known Ebola patient in the west African country was discharged from hospital in April. WHO has declared the end to an outbreak, also known as the end to viral transmission, 42 days after the last known patient was tested negative for the second time. "WHO commends the Government of Guinea and its people on ending this Ebola outbreak," said Abou Bekr Gaye, the UN agency`s representative in Guinea. He called for vigilance to "stop any new cases that may occur." In the three countries hit hardest by the Ebola crisis -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- fresh cases emerged after an outbreak was declared over. The worst-ever Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013 and went on to kill more than 11,300 people, devastating economies and health systems in the worst affected countries, while testing the world`s capacity to respond to a global health emergency.

Latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea is over: WHO

Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre was found guilty on Monday of raping a woman, the first conviction in several charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 
The court`s Burkinabe president Gberdao Gustave Kam said testimony from Khadija Hassan Zidane had established &quot;non-consensual sexual relations on three occasions, and a non-consensual oral sex act,&quot; committed by Habre.

Hissene Habre, former dictator found guilty of rape

Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre was found guilty on Monday of raping a woman, the first conviction in several charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court`s Burkinabe president Gberdao Gustave Kam said testimony from Khadija Hassan Zidane had established "non-consensual sexual relations on three occasions, and a non-consensual oral sex act," committed by Habre.

Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre convicted of rape

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