Topic: West Africa
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10 best books of March, according to Amazon's editors
Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson talks about the 10 new releases she's calling the best books of March.
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5 invasive species now in retreat
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Looking deeper
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Currents
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Orange Prize for fiction 2011 shortlist
All Content
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Can a 4,000-mile wall of trees stop Sahara Desert's drift?
The pan-African Great Green Wall project aims to build a literal wall of trees to stop the Sahara Desert's southward creep. But is the idea too good to be true?
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Ghana is rising, but so are its dump-yards of cast-off appliances
As Ghana's economy booms, its consumers no longer want used appliances shipped in from the West. Now that 'e-waste' is filling dumps and causing environmental woes.
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Africa Monitor In tiny Lesotho, Chinese immigrants set up shop
Several thousand Chinese now work in the mountainous southern African nation as shopkeepers and traders, but some claim their presence undercut local entrepreneurs.
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Opinion: Motive in Boston bombings: Look to tribal code of honor
The Tsarnaev brothers, suspects in the Boston bombings, are ethnic Chechens, stemming from a tribal society in which a code of honor and revenge plays a major role. As questions turn to motive, this code may be far more relevant than the brothers' views of Islam.
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Difference Maker
Paul Giniès turned a failing African university into a world-class problem-solverToday 2iE is recognized as a 'center of excellence' producing top-notch home-grown African engineers ready to address the continent's problems.
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Focus
In Mali, a war ends but instability lingersThe French drove out Islamist rebels in northern Mali. But can France and its African allies translate those victories into regional stability and peace?
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Global News Blog French in Mali face Islamist insurgency of unknown strength
Insurgent raids into Timbuktu and Gao in supposedly secured northern cities put a question mark over France's aspirations to wrap up its military intervention in Mali soon.
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Africa Monitor US military in Africa faces uncertain year after Benghazi, sequestration
AFRICOM faces pressure to better protect US interests on the African continent, even as the sequester threatens crucial portions of its budget.
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Change Agent Sierra Leone combats the outrage of child soldiering
The Child Soldier Initiative will train the army and police in how to engage with children in combat situations, as well as educate youths about the problem.
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In Mali fight, Chad proves a powerful partner for France
Chad may be a poor country marred by frequent turmoil, but its forces have fought very effectively against Islamist rebels in northern Mali.
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10 best books of March, according to Amazon's editors
Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson talks about the 10 new releases she's calling the best books of March.
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Opinion: Israeli airstrike on Syria shows strategic strength
Despite pledges from Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah that use of force will be met with force, there has been no retaliation since Israel's airstrike inside Syria Jan. 30. Israel clearly retains the strategic high ground in the region, with full knowledge that its enemies are bogged down.
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Terrorism & Security French, Malian troops regain control of Gao after rebels raid by canoe
Islamist rebels slipped into the strategic city of Gao by crossing the Niger River with canoes over the weekend.
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In Mali, two suicide bombings could indicate new wave of violence
Two suicide bombings, in nearly the same spot at a checkpoint outside of Gao, could indicate another wave of violence from Islamic militants in Mali. French and Malian troops had found industrial-strength explosives in the city earlier in the week.
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Energy Voices Pirates want your oil and they are smart enough to get it
Increased security has forced pirates to rethink their strategy for obtaining oil, Alic writes, and they have repeatedly demonstrated that they are capable of moving with the times.
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Campaign against female genital mutilation gaining ground support, results
Nearly 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation. But experts say there is reason to believe the practice is waning in many of the 29 countries where it is most widespread.
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Can Timbuktu stay pacified after Islamist rebels are run out?
With gun caches still to round up and ethnic rivalries to negotiate as thousands of residents return, can Timbuktu avoid spasms of 'vengeance'?
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Backchannels The French are winning handily in Mali
Enough with the facile Vietnam and Afghanistan analogies.
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Opinion: Attacks in Mali, Libya, Algeria show why Africa still needs US support
Attacks by Islamist insurgents on US outposts in Benghazi, Libya, at a gas plant in Algeria, and in Mali expose several reasons for persistent security weakness across Africa. For one thing, many countries are too poor to supply the funds and soldiers for regional peace efforts.
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Difference Maker
Rachel Goble helps stop sex trafficking of impoverished childrenThe SOLD Project helps young girls in Thailand avoid becoming prostitutes through mentoring and education.
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What are Western and African powers up against in Mali, Algeria?
Leaders around the world are vowing to strike back hard at Islamist militancy that is surging across North Africa. Here are some of the challenges they face.
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French forces may have captured key Mali town for second victory in war(+video)
Malian officials say militants have given up their 4x4 vehicles, making them vulnerable to French air operations. Reuters journalists north of Bamako saw French and Malian flags hung side by side and one national paper ran a headline today: 'Thank you France, thank you Francois Hollande.' Still, it is early days.
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Global News Blog French flags selling out in Mali's capital
France's military intervention has been widely greeted here. Normally, Malian attitudes towards its former colonial ruler range from resentment to admiration.
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Algeria hostage crisis brings world to North Africa's anti-Islamist fight (+video)
US confirms it deployed drones to monitor the fast-moving Algeria hostage crisis, which thrust Algeria onto center stage of the regional battle against radical Islamists.
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French will triple troops in Mali, prepare for ground fight
French military officials say they will up forces from 800 to 2500 and in Mali a huge logistical operation to support ground forces grinds into place.
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