Salem-News.com Africa articles Page 57

Myths Block Discovery of Real Cleopatra

Archaeologists may be on the verge of discovering Cleopatra’s long-sought tomb, and bestselling novelist Michelle Moran is concerned over inaccuracies commonly believed for more than 2,000 years about the Egyptian queen.

(SAN BERNADINO, Calif.) - Remembered for her political triumphs, legendary seductions, and untimely death, Cleopatra remains one of the most evocative figures of all time.

Celebrated Artist Will be Named UN Goodwill Ambassador for Human Trafficking

Proceeds raised from the sale of the some 200 paintings, as well as some of Mr. Bleckner’s own portraits, will benefit children from Gulu in northern Uganda who created the works.

(GENEVA) - The United Nations anti-crime arm will today name acclaimed American painter Ross Bleckner as Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking at the opening of an art exhibition displaying paintings by former child soldiers and abducted girls from Uganda.

Sea-Jacking of German-Owned MV Victoria Has Been Confirmed (PHOTOS)

Germany recalled its GSG-9 commando unit from the pirate-infested region over the weekend after deciding that attempting to storm another ship – the Hansa Stavanger – could have ended in a bloodbath.

(SOMALI COAST, Africa) - The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo vessel M/V Victoria had been hijacked by eight pirates in the Gulf of Aden whilst proceeding towards the Port of Jeddah in the Red Sea, the Antigua and Barbuda government said in a statement.

It added that the 7,767 gross ton, 146-metre general cargo vessel had a crew of ten and it was believed the hijacked vessel was being taken to the Somalian port of Eyl, a known pirate lair.

German-Owned Ship Seajacked by Pirates Near Muqalla

Pirates seized the cargo ship early Saturday in the Gulf of Aden about 150 nautical miles southeast of the coastal Yemeni city of Muqalla.

(MUQALLA, Yemen) - Pirates sea-jacked a cargo ship believed to be German owned and/or flagged and captured its 17-strong crew overnight in the Gulf of Aden, a Kenyan official said Saturday.

"A 31,000-tonne cereal carrier has been seized overnight (Friday to Saturday) in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden," said Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.

Somali Bandits: Robin Hoods With an AK-47 and an Itchy Finger

Among his other accomplishments in life as a WWII Combat Vet, Physician and Forensic Toxicologist, Dr. Leveque is a Professor of Pharmacology who trained the first doctors in Tanzania, Africa.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Jamac Habeb, a 30 year-old self-proclaimed pirate, told the Associated Press “From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them”. Now what was the next question?

Another comment was “Somali pirates until today were proud to have a humanitarian code of conduct”. I guess this is like stealing someone’s last food supply just because the bandit has an AK47!

Somali Pirates Vow Revenge for Deaths

The Navy was almost certainly justified in shooting the pirates, and it is also certain that the decision to do that will compound the difficulty for existing pirate hostages.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Activists in Africa with EcoTerra, who have been working with the Somali pirate issue for years, are dismayed over the recent gunning down of the teenage pirates who had held an American sea captain hostage in a lifeboat that was out of gas and dead in the water.

As it turns out, the pirates were killed while their boat was in tow by a U.S. Navy ship. They had willingly gone under tow when the Navy SEAL team opened fire on them.

American Sea Captain Escapes Pirates and is Safe

U.S. politicians and media pundits remain intent on claiming that the Somali's aren't pirates, as they plunder riches from innocent people in ships on the high seas and kidnap captains in lifeboats.

(MOMBASA, Kenya) - Captain Richard Phillips is a free man. He's the ship captain who was kidnapped last week by Somali pirates. Three of the teenage pirates who were holding Phillips in a lifeboat were killed and a fourth was captured.

Phillips reportedly escaped after jumping overboard. According to CNN, the rescue operation was conducted while one pirate was aboard the USS Bainbridge for negotiations on Phillips' release.

Matt Lauer Lies: Somalia`s Pirates Aren`t Just `Criminals With Guns`

A surprising portrayal of pirates by a host of The Today Show helps spread ignorance about serious problems on the high seas.
Where in the world did Matt Lauer's brain go?

(SALEM, Ore.) - Americans have found it more important in recent years to care about pirates. You know, the ones played by actors like Johnny Depp. That's certainly more important to the Britney Spears generation than the real thing. Surely that 'pirate stuff' is just from old novels and Errol Flynn movies, right?

The recent overtaking of an American freighter by Somali pirates has brought the issue to the forefront but still media jackasses like Matt Lauer go on TV and say things like, "Hey let's get this straight, these aren't pirates, they're criminals with guns."

African Reflections, Part Two: The Cat and the Hat (SLIDESHOW)

I'll ultimately devote a specific column to sibling rivalry, but this one will focus on the insidious way in which my boys can play one parent against the other.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - One of the most endearing experiences we had on our African safari and honeymoon was no, not all the mating animals we coincidentally encountered, but a playful incident among lion cubs.

As I mentioned in Part One of my African Reflections, we were fortunate to find the same lioness we had witnessed earlier during her mating. After finishing those obligations and, starving, she had made a kill and was eager to eat.

African Reflections, Part One: The Lion Mates Tonight (SLIDESHOW)

Seeing these mating animals had the unexpected effect of reminding me that I had a job to do, at home.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - ShortRib (my wife) and I went on our honeymoon, shortly after getting married at the end of last year.

It was an exotic trip and one we wouldn’t have undertaken, given the subsequent economic collapse, had we not already paid for the trip (which was non-refundable).