The crisis that is looming in the Sahel region of Africa threatens millions with hunger, and comes as world leaders convened this week for their Rio + 20 UN Summit to review how sustainable development can achieve poverty eradication in the world.

Gunmen murdered a German man in Mali’s most famous city and seized three men from the Netherlands, South Africa and Sweden, as officials ordered a plane to evacuate foreigners from the tourist destination.

A desert chief with al-Qaida’s North Africa branch has said his group has acquired weapons from stockpiles left unguarded in Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Osama bin Laden warned France in a new taped message that its citizens face being killed in revenge attacks.

THE bird conservation equivalent of a school term report has appeared in Britain.

ADULT CUCKOOS have left our shores and soon their youngsters will bid farewell to their devoted foster parents and head for Africa.

Niger, Zimbabwe and North Korea are all set to benefit from a €2m aid package announced by the Government today.

Niger’s president played down the food crisis ravaging his desert nation, saying that people in the impoverished West African country “look well-fed”.