Key US senator pushes back against Trump’s proposed foreign aid cuts

Senator Bob Corker, center, speaks to recent refugees from South Sudan at a registration center in Bidi Bidi, Uganda, Friday, April 14 2017. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, strongly defended U.S. foreign assistance on Friday while visiting the world's fastest growing refugee crisis in northern Uganda, just across the border from war-torn South Sudan.

AP News in Brief at 11:04 p.m. EDT

The U.S. commander in Afghanistan who ordered use of the "mother of all bombs" to attack an Islamic State stronghold near the Pakistani border didn't need and didn't request President Donald Trump's approval, Pentagon officials said Friday. The officials said that even before Trump took office in January, Gen.

US Senator Pushes Back Against Trump’s Proposed Foreign Aid Cuts

Face-to-face with victims of South Sudan's famine and civil war, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee strongly defended U.S. foreign aid on Friday despite President Donald Trump's proposed deep cuts in humanitarian assistance. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee visited the world's fastest-growing refugee crisis in northern Uganda, just across the border from South Sudan, in a pointed response to Trump's "America First" platform that would slash funds for diplomacy and foreign aid.

US senators say food aid constraints delay help amid famine

As President Donald Trump seeks to cut foreign aid under the slogan of "America First," two U.S. senators are proposing making American food assistance more efficient after meeting with victims of South Sudan's famine and civil war. Following a visit to the world's largest refugee settlement in northern Uganda with the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware told The Associated Press on Saturday that the U.S. "can deliver more food aid at less cost" through foreign food aid reform.

From Opponents To Former Allies, Pressure Mounts Against South Africa’s Zuma

Forward with reshuffle forward... just once of the chants from the #ANCYL at the Germiston stadium this evening. Image by Julia Housdon South African President Jacob Zuma is reported to have fended off calls from within his own ruling ANC Party to resign, prompting a bounce in the fortune of the rand.

Gallup’s Happiness Poll finds Americans aren’t very

By the usual measurements of economic growth , unemployment and standard poll questions on intent, professionals and many others were pretty certain the United Kingdom would decide to remain in the EU that it fought so long and hard to enter. Turns out, if media had measured "Happiness," they'd have recognized the historic looming Brexit upheaval.

Uganda at ‘breaking point’ as South Sudan refugees pour in

Donald Trump Jr. is facing criticism for tweeting in the hours after Wednesday's London attack a months-old comment from London Mayor Sadiq Khan that terror attacks are part of living in a big city. Donald Trump Jr. is facing criticism for tweeting in the hours after Wednesday's London attack a months-old comment from London Mayor Sadiq Khan that terror attacks are part of living in a big city.

Libya’s eastern parliament quits UN peace deal with Tripoli

The nation's passionate debate about the role of government in providing health care for citizens and paying the costs is unlikely to be settled by the legislation House Republicans have unveiled. The nation's passionate debate about the role of government in providing health care for citizens and paying the costs is unlikely to be settled by the legislation House Republicans have unveiled.

Solar Power May Get Boost From Africa’s Biggest Oil Exporter

Senators in the capital of Abuja are currently debating whether they'll allocate $30 million to solar projects in this year's budget, according to the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria. They're expected to provide funding for off-grid solar projects, photovoltaic manufacturing, and transmission upgrades, according to REAN Executive Secretary Godwin Aigbokhan.

Black lives don’t matter in xenophobic South Africa

Foreign nationals and members of various South African civil society groups take part in an anti-xenophobia march through Cape Town, South Africa. Last week was an ugly, humiliating one for South Africa; a country once considered a jewel of democracy on the African continent has been gripped by a wave of xenophobic violence .

Not all foreigners are criminals, says Zuma

President Jacob Zuma on Friday called for restraint ahead of the planned march against foreign nationals which is being organised by a group calling itself the Mamelodi Concerned Residents. "The situation has become more serious in light of current threats of violence and acts of intimidation and destruction of property directed at non-nationals living in South Africa," said Zuma in a statement issued by the Presidency.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe, now 93, confirms election run

One of Africa's longest-serving heads of state turns 93 today -- but is showing no signs of slowing down. In an interview to state media to celebrate the occasion, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe confirmed that he intends to run for president in the 2018 general election, Reuters reported.

.com | EXCLUSIVE: Joice Mujuru ‘is not a leader, we’re fed up of her dictatorial tendencies’

A Zimbabwean woman, 48, reportedly tried to kill herself after learning that her eldest son wanted to marry a sex worker. Harare - Fired lieutenants of Zimbabwe's ex-vice president Joice Mujuru have hit back at their former boss, saying that she cannot sack them from the opposition Zimbabwe People First , as they are elders of the party.

‘Saturday Night Live’ Mocks President Trump’s Calls With Foreign Leaders In Cold Opener

During the cold opener this weekend, Alec Baldwin reprised his role as President Trump with Steve Bannon - dressed as the Grim Reaper - at his side as he phoned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Al-Qaeda Terror Attack in Mali Reaffirms Importance of American Engagement at the United Nations

An al-Qaeda linked militant group killed 77 Malian soldiers and security personnel and injured hundreds with a suicide bombing in the northern Malian city of Gao on January 18 in the latest of a series of deadly terrorist attacks across the region. The slain soldiers and police had been working side by side with United Nations Peacekeepers, who themselves have lost 110 soldiers in Mali since being deployed there nearly four years ago.