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The killing of a young reporter – the sixth journalist to be killed in Somalia this year – has prompted “shock and outrage” from union and media colleagues. Ahmed Addow Anshur (right), 25, was murdered on Thursday, 24 May 2012, the National Union of Somali Journalists reports. He was shot four times in the head and chest by four men armed with pistols. “We strongly condemn this indescribable murder of Ahmed Addow Anshur whose work as a journalist over the years has been lauded for his high professional quality and integrity,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “It is obvious that he was murdered in the exercise of his professional work as a journalist so that he does not expose uncomfortable truth.” The presenter ... Continue reading →

MOGADISHU(Sh.M.Network)- Unidentified gunmen shot to death a well-known Somali journalist in broad daylight Wednesday inMogadishu’s Dharkenlay district controlled by Somali government, the sixty journalist to be killed in Somalia this year witnesses and relatives said. Ahmed Adow Anshur, the journalist working for the local independent Shabelle Media Network based in Mogadishu was assassinated at Suuq-Bocle area in Dharkenlay around 1:30 am local time, the area is controlled by Somali government. Mr. Anshur, who was shot in the head and chest by four assailants armed with pistols, died instantly at the scene in his home town inMogadishu’s Dharkenlay district, the witnesses said. The identities and motives of the gunmen who shot dead the journalist were not clear so far. For more, send your comments to webmaster@shabelle.net Continue reading →

By Claire Davenport and Luke Baker BRUSSELS | Wed May 23, 2012 8:54pm EDT BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders, advised by senior officials to prepare contingency plans in case Greece decides to quit the single currency, urged the country to stay the course on austerity and complete the reforms demanded under its bailout program. After nearly six hours of talks held during an informal dinner, leaders said they were committed to Greece remaining in the euro zone, but it had to stick to its side of the bargain too, a commitment that will mean a heavy cost for Greeks."We want Greece to stay in the euro, but we insist that Greece sticks to commitments that it has agreed to," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told ... Continue reading →

By Andrew Quinn and Justyna Pawlak BAGHDAD | Thu May 24, 2012 5:35am EDT BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iran accused world powers on Thursday of creating "a difficult atmosphere" that hindered talks on its atomic energy programme, signaling a snag in diplomacy to defuse fears of a covert Iranian bid to develop nuclear bombs. The nub of the dispute was not immediately clear as the high-stakes talks went into a second day in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.But Iran had served notice that it wanted immediate relief from economic sanctions as part of any deal to scale back uranium enrichment, whereas Western powers insisted Tehran must first rein in its activity.Pro-government Iranian media said Tehran's negotiators were demanding a principle of "reciprocity" of concessions, which they said ... Continue reading →

By Tom Perry and Tom Pfeiffer CAIRO | Thu May 24, 2012 8:29am EDT CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptians, choosing their leader freely for the first time in history, voted for a second day on Thursday in an election that is a fruit of last year's popular revolt against Hosni Mubarak. After six decades under authoritarian, military-backed rule, Egypt's 50 million voters can decide whether to entrust the most populous Arab nation to an Islamist president for the next four years, as well as the Islamist-led assembly they chose earlier.But secular candidates like ex-Arab League chief Amr Moussa and Mubarak's last premier Ahmed Shafiq are in with a chance.Some voters voice disappointment with the performance of parliament, where the Muslim Brotherhood's party has the biggest bloc. ... Continue reading →

By Kate Kelland LONDON | Wed May 23, 2012 1:16pm EDT LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have for the first time succeeded in taking skin cells from patients with heart failure and transforming them into healthy, beating heart tissue that could one day be used to treat the condition. The researchers, based in Haifa, Israel, said there were still many years of testing and refining ahead. But the results meant they might eventually be able to reprogram patients' cells to repair their own damaged hearts."We have shown that it's possible to take skin cells from an elderly patient with advanced heart failure and end up with his own beating cells in a laboratory dish that are healthy and young - the equivalent to the stage of ... Continue reading →

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By Aseel Kami BABYLON, Iraq | Wed May 23, 2012 10:26am EDT BABYLON, Iraq May 23 (Reuters) - In the ancient city of Babylon, once home to the fabled Hanging Gardens, an extended oil pipeline has churned through the dirt and dug up a conundrum: which takes precedence, preserving Iraq's heritage or developing its oil wealth? The definitive answer will probably be decades coming. But for the moment, oil appears to have the edge.The site of ancient Mesopotamia, said by some to be the birthplace of writing, agriculture and written law, Iraq holds many keys to the history of civilization. It's a point of pride for Iraqis, but so are the riches it earns from oil.Mariam Omran Musa, who manages the Babylon site for the ... Continue reading →

This course is designed to help journalists inAfricato strengthen their reporting on financial and economic topics by developing their understanding and skills. “Learning by doing” is a core part of the programme, which includes practical exercises and live reporting. The course also focuses on improving coverage of national and international financial issues through detailed briefings, presentations by guest speakers and, where appropriate, a reporting visit to a financial institution. In-depth discussions will explore ways of tackling subjects such as resource exploitation, economic governance and capital flight from developing countries. Eligibility: For this Thomson Reuters Foundation programme, applicants must be English-speaking professional journalists in Africa who are currently working as journalists or regular contributors to print, broadcast or online media organisations in English. They must be ... Continue reading →