Dilemma X

Italy cruise ship Costa Concordia aground near Giglio BBC News Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground off Italy. There were scenes of panic as the Costa Concordia hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the island of Giglio and listed about 20 degrees. Most people […]

Nigerians unite at fuel demonstration By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria — A human wave of more than 20,000 surrounded the Muslim faithful as they prayed toward Mecca Friday, as anti-government demonstrations over spiraling fuel prices and corruption showed unity among protesters despite growing sectarian tensions in Africa’s most populous nation. While violence sparked […]

Transnet of South Africa to build $1.5 billion rail link through Swaziland By Sikonathi Mantshantsha Bloomberg  Transnet SOC Ltd., the South African state-owned port and rail-freight operator, and Swaziland Rail agreed to build a line through the kingdom that will free up capacity to carry coal to Richards Bay. “The first train will run in […]

Boko Haram leader challenges authority of Nigeria’s president in video   By JON GAMBRELL and SUNDAY ALAMBA Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria — The leader of a radical Islamist sect has challenged the authority of Nigeria’s president in an online video, promising more attacks in a nation increasingly overcome by unrest and divided by religion. The […]

African National Congress (ANC) South Africa’s Zuma hails ANC legacy AFP President Jacob Zuma on Sunday celebrated his ruling ANC’s achievement of leading South Africa into all-race freedom at a mass rally for the party’s 100th anniversary. “The ANC mobilised the South African people across the racial, gender and class divide. The ANC, a disciplined […]

Russia’s population at 142,857,000 Population is falling UPI MOSCOW — An official report of the 2010 census shows that Russia’s population is 142,857,000 people with an average age of 39. The new count drops the country down a step in world population standings. Russia previously had the world’s 7th-largest population, but now it is 8th, after […]

South Africa’s ANC party celebrates 100 years     African National Congress marks its 100th anniversary this weekend with fanfare and dozens of visiting presidents.   More than 100,000 people are expected for the ANC centenary festivities, including 46 heads of state and a dozen former presidents, the party says.  

Brazil dam burst forces thousands from homes BBC News Brazilian authorities are trying to evacuate several thousand people after a dam burst in northern Rio de Janeiro state. Water broke through the dam protecting the town of Campos de Goytacazes, opening up a big crater in a highway. Rio and other parts of south-eastern Brazil […]

Japan Seen With First Trade Gap Since ‘63 in JPMorgan Outlook By Eleanor Warnock Bloomberg Japan probably recorded its first annual trade deficit since 1963 last year, part of a shift that may see the world’s largest net creditor come to rely on inflows of foreign capital by 2015, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. […]

Germany’s unemployment rate drops to record low   By Rachel Rickard Straus This is Money   German unemployment fell to a 20-year low in December, bucking the trend of growing levels of joblessness in the eurozone.   Unemployment fell to 6.8 per cent from 6.9 per cent in November, according to the German Federal Labour […]