Somali Pirates Release Ship, Capture Another
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 1:05 pm UTC
Posted 2 hours ago
Somali pirates have released a chemical tanker and its mostly Tunisian crew.
Tunisian officials say pirates released theHannibal II and its crew Thursday after receiving a ransom payment of $2 million. Officials say the 22 Tunisians and nine other crew members were in good health and that the ship is heading to Djibouti.
The tanker was hijacked last November while carrying vegetable oil from Malaysia to Egypt.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s anti-piracy force says pirates have seized an Indonesian vessel and used it in a failed bid to attack another ship.
The EU force says up to 50 pirates hijacked the bulk carrierMV Sinar Kudis in the Somali basin Wednesday as it was headed for Egypt.
A statement says the ship was then used on Thursday to attack a Liberian-flagged vessel, theMV Emperor. The taskforce says the pirates were repelled by the ship’s armed security forces.
Somali pirates have made hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years hijacking ships for ransom. Estimates vary, but the pirates are believed to be holding more than 30 ships and close to 700 hostages.
Tags: Piracy, Somalia, St, UpdTunisian officials say pirates released theHannibal II and its crew Thursday after receiving a ransom payment of $2 million. Officials say the 22 Tunisians and nine other crew members were in good health and that the ship is heading to Djibouti.
The tanker was hijacked last November while carrying vegetable oil from Malaysia to Egypt.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s anti-piracy force says pirates have seized an Indonesian vessel and used it in a failed bid to attack another ship.
The EU force says up to 50 pirates hijacked the bulk carrierMV Sinar Kudis in the Somali basin Wednesday as it was headed for Egypt.
A statement says the ship was then used on Thursday to attack a Liberian-flagged vessel, theMV Emperor. The taskforce says the pirates were repelled by the ship’s armed security forces.
Somali pirates have made hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years hijacking ships for ransom. Estimates vary, but the pirates are believed to be holding more than 30 ships and close to 700 hostages.
Posted in Africa
Losing Candidate Concedes Defeat in Niger Election
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 2:50 pm UTC
Posted 41 minutes ago
The losing candidate in Niger's presidential election has conceded defeat.
Seini Oumarou told reporters that he has decided against asking Niger's constitutional council to annul results from Saturday's run-off vote.
The country's electoral commission said veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou won the vote 58 to 42 percent.
In an interview with VOA , President-elect Issoufou praised what he called Oumarou's democratic behavior, and said he is sure the two can work together.
Oumarou's concession paves the way for a smooth transition back to civilian government in Niger, after more than a year of military rule.
The army toppled President Mamadou Tandja in February 2010, after he forced through constitutional changes to extend his term and expand his powers.
Oumarou is a former prime minister of Mr. Tandja's. But Mr. Issoufou was favored to win after taking the most votes during first-round polling in January and then getting endorsements several other presidential candidates.
Mr. Issoufou told VOA he is open to a possible pardon for Mr. Tandja, who is currently in prison facing charges of corruption.
He said his top priority is to stabilize Niger. He said he specifically wants to increase security and make sure that people have enough to eat.
Despite rich deposits of uranium, Niger has endured chronic poverty and unrest since winning independence in 1960.
The country has recently become a base for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which has carried out numerous killings and kidnappings of Westerners across Africa's Sahel region.
Seini Oumarou told reporters that he has decided against asking Niger's constitutional council to annul results from Saturday's run-off vote.
The country's electoral commission said veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou won the vote 58 to 42 percent.
In an interview with VOA , President-elect Issoufou praised what he called Oumarou's democratic behavior, and said he is sure the two can work together.
Oumarou's concession paves the way for a smooth transition back to civilian government in Niger, after more than a year of military rule.
The army toppled President Mamadou Tandja in February 2010, after he forced through constitutional changes to extend his term and expand his powers.
Oumarou is a former prime minister of Mr. Tandja's. But Mr. Issoufou was favored to win after taking the most votes during first-round polling in January and then getting endorsements several other presidential candidates.
Mr. Issoufou told VOA he is open to a possible pardon for Mr. Tandja, who is currently in prison facing charges of corruption.
He said his top priority is to stabilize Niger. He said he specifically wants to increase security and make sure that people have enough to eat.
Despite rich deposits of uranium, Niger has endured chronic poverty and unrest since winning independence in 1960.
The country has recently become a base for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which has carried out numerous killings and kidnappings of Westerners across Africa's Sahel region.
Fossil of Giant Dinosaur Found in Angola
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 2:05 pm UTC
Posted 1 hour ago
Scientists say they have uncovered the first dinosaur fossil ever found in Angola, and say it belonged to one of the largest creatures ever to walk the Earth.
A report in the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences describes the dinosaur as a unique long-necked, plant-eating sauropod. A sauropod is a dinosaur with lizard-like hips.
The international team of scientists behind the discovery say the dinosaur lived 90 million years ago. They discovered its fossilized forelimb in a part of Angola that would have been underwater at that time.
The report suggests the dinosaur may have been washed out to sea and torn apart by ancient sharks, because the fossil was discovered with fish and shark teeth.
The creature has been named Angolatitan adamastor, or Angolan giant.
Matthew Bonnan, a U.S. sauropod expert , said he believes the research team's claim will be confirmed. Bonnan said the discovery could help scientists understand how sauropods adapted to different environments.
A report in the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences describes the dinosaur as a unique long-necked, plant-eating sauropod. A sauropod is a dinosaur with lizard-like hips.
The international team of scientists behind the discovery say the dinosaur lived 90 million years ago. They discovered its fossilized forelimb in a part of Angola that would have been underwater at that time.
The report suggests the dinosaur may have been washed out to sea and torn apart by ancient sharks, because the fossil was discovered with fish and shark teeth.
The creature has been named Angolatitan adamastor, or Angolan giant.
Matthew Bonnan, a U.S. sauropod expert , said he believes the research team's claim will be confirmed. Bonnan said the discovery could help scientists understand how sauropods adapted to different environments.
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