Faced with Boko Haram refugees, Niger calls for help

Niamey - Niger needs more international assistance to help it confront a looming food crisis compounded by an influx of refugees fleeing attacks by Boko Haram Islamist fighters in neighbouring Nigeria, the country's prime minister said.

The twin crisis highlights the strain being put on Niger, a uranium producer straddling the Sahara that is one of the world's poorest nations, by recurrent poor harvests and the spill over from its neighbour's conflict with militants.

All-night vote in Nigeria opposition presidential primary

Lagos - Members of Nigeria's main opposition party voted through the night to choose a candidate to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan at next year's elections, with a result expected later on Thursday.

Proceedings at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary at a stadium in the financial capital Lagos had been due to get under way mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

But it did not start until 23:00 and the 7 214 delegates only began to cast their ballots - alphabetically by state - from 03:00.

Kim Kardashian got North a Christmas present 'she's really going to love'

Kim Kardashian's daughter is apparently in for one heck of a Christmas.

"We try not to spoil, but we have something nice that I think she'll really love," Kim Kardashian said of North West's Christmas gift. "It just got delivered so when we move in [to our new home], she'll see this new, fun play stuff that we got for her. We're going to show her on Christmas."

Kim isn't saying what it is, but perhaps it's something involving "Elf On A Shelf," the famous children's picture book, which is the 18-month-old's latest obsession. "It's her most exciting thing," Kim said.

Buhari wins APC Presidential Primary

Former Head of State Buhari has reportedly beaten former VP Atiku Abubakar, current Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, current governor of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, and the publisher of Leadership newspapers Sam Nda-Isaiah, to win the APC presidential Primary. So he will face president Jonathan at the 2015 presidential election to be held in February 2015.

Nigeria’s army kills 27 Boko Haram insurgents

Nigeria's army killed 27 members of Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram as part of efforts to regain control over the country's volatile north-east, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Soldiers clashed with the insurgents in the Balmo, Lame and Hildi forests in Borno State, the ministry said in a statement, without specifying when the fighting took place.