Photos: Here's why a trip to South Africa was the best vacation I've ever taken By Sarah Schmalbruchhotos:

When I was younger, my family moved to Zurich, Switzerland for five years because of my dad's job.
Not only was Switzerland a great place to be an American expat, it was also a great home base for all the traveling my family did both in Europe and in other continents.
Out of all the amazing trips we took, there is one that really sticks out in my mind: our two-week trip to South Africa.

This is one of the only trips my family ever planned with the help of a travel agent. It was an investment, but a worthwhile one, because the trip left me with countless memories that I'll hold onto forever.
South Africa is a diverse country with so much to offer. There are larger cities to visit such as Johannesburg, Capetown, and the capital, Pretoria. Then there's Kruger National Park, which is a must for adventurous travelers hoping to experience a safari. There are beaches for surfers or sunbathers, and vineyards for wine aficionados. 

Here are the highlights from my family's visit.

ISIS Wants Its New Caliphate Here By Nancy A. Youssef,

ISIS Wants Its New Caliphate in Tunisia (The Daily Beast)

There are increased signs that the self-proclaimed Islamic State has sets its sights on expanding its caliphate to Tunisia next.
In the last two weeks, ISIS has published videos taunting the government, shared pictures of some its fighters brandishing guns and made fun of a Tunisian tourism campaign in the wake of a March bombing at a museum that was reportedly carried out by ISIS. The group also has posted online photos of supposed Tunisian martyrs to its cause—though the tweets don’t make clear where those purported members died.
ISIS also announced that it is creating the Islamic State of Afrikah, an antiquated name for the region that is now Tunisia.

APC "All Accredited Media Including AIT Free To Cover President Elect, Mohammadu Buhari's Activities"

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that all accredited media organizations in the country, including the African Independent Television (AIT), are free to cover the activities of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the incoming Buhari Administration will not discriminate against any media organization, irrespective of its role during the electioneering campaign leading up to the recent polls.

Photos: South Africa's Football Legend John Shoes Moshoeu Funeral Ceremony In Johannesburg

 Late John 'Shoes' Moshoeu's daughter

SA football legend John Shoes Moshoeu who died last week of stomach cancer was buried with full honours at the West Park Cemetry in Johannesburg, on 27 April 2015.More pics after cut...

Photos: Baltimore erupts in riots after funeral of black man who died in police custody

 A demonstrator confronts police near Camden Yards during a protest against the death in police custody of Freddie Gray in Baltimore April 25, 2015.


The riots broke out just blocks from the funeral of Freddie Gray and spread through much of West Baltimore in the most violent protests against police treatment of African Americans since arson and gunfire in Ferguson, Missouri, last year.
A state of emergency was declared by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, who sent in the National Guard, and a curfew was imposed in the largely black city from Tuesday night, with exceptions for work and medical emergencies. More pics after cut...

President Jacob Zuma 'Xenophobia mess is not ours alone'

President Jacob Zuma

This is what President Jacob Zuma told thousands of people at the Freedom Day celebrations at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, yesterday.
In off-the-cuff comments, Zuma took exception to suggestions that South Africa alone was to blame for the attacks on its foreign residents sparked by a labour dispute in KwaZulu-Natal and which spread to Gauteng.
"As much as we have a problem, our neighbouring countries contribute to this. It's not useful to be critical of South Africa as if we mushroom these foreign nationals and then mistreat them," he said.

Hundreds' found dead as fresh Boko Haram violence hits Nigeria

A Nigerien soldier covers his face while taking a picture of a mass grave in the recently retaken town of Damasak, Nigeria.
Image by:  REUTERS

Reports of decomposing bodies littering the streets of Damasak came as president Muhammadu Buhari denounced the Islamists as a bogus religious group and vowed a hard line against them when he comes to power at the end of next month.
Northeast Nigeria has been relentlessly targeted throughout the jihadists' six-year uprising but there had been a lull in violence in recent weeks.

ISIS and Boko Haram: How do we save the girls they brutally kidnap? By Yohana Desta

 A Yazidi girl displaced by ISIS militants is photographed in northern Iraq on Dec. 10, 2014.

Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by terrorist group Boko Haram are still missing. Despite thousands of concerned tweets under a widespread #BringBackOurGirls hashtag, experts still can't say for sure if they'll ever be rescued.

Obiageli Ezekwesili, the cofounder of the Bring Back Our Girls organization, is still searching for answers.
"The girls that you tweeted about ... are not yet back," she told the audience at the sixth annual Women in the World Summit in New York on April 23. "It is not time to move on."

Jihadi groups unite: Boko Haram changes name to Islamic State’s West African Province

 Boko Haram fighters parading on a tank in an unidentified town.

 Boko Haram’s commitment to the jihadi group the Islamic State, has just become even more pronounced, after the Nigerian terrorist organization changed its name to ISWAP or Islamic State’s West Africa Province.
The move appears to give the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) a foothold outside of the Middle East and North Africa for the first time, as the terrorist organization tries to create a global caliphate.
Links between the two militant Islamist organizations have grown over the last year. A recent video released by IS sang the praises of Boko Haram fighters, while the Nigeria-based militant group also released a propaganda video, via IS’s social media channels.

Xenophobia - South Africa Condemns Nigeria's Recall of High Commissioner, Jabs President Jonathan

Anti-xenophobia protesters in South Africa.

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, has described the recall of Nigeria's High Commissioner as an "unfortunate and regrettable" diplomatic step.
In a statement, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, said the South African government was shocked that the Nigerian government would resort "to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government".

Arrests, radio station shut as Burundi hit by fresh protests

 
Landry NshimiyePeople are escorted from the scene by police during a protest against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in power in Burundi's capital Bujumbura on April 27, 2015
Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) -

Authorities in Burundi arrested a leading dissident and shut down the main independent radio station Monday as they battled a second day of demonstrations against a bid by the president to cling to power for a third term.
The army was also deployed around the capital Bujumbura, after the Red Cross said two people were shot dead in clashes with police in the capital Bujumbura on Sunday. A third person died from their wounds and two more were killed in alleged overnight attacks by ruling party militia.

Photos: The Latest on Nepal Quake: Choppers ferry injured to Gorkha

 

Sita Karka, suffering two broken legs from Saturday's massive earthquake, arrives by helicopter from the heavily-damaged Ranachour village at a landing zone in the town of Gorkha, Nepal, Tuesday, April 28, 2015.  (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

At Dubai International Airport, workers loaded crates packed with relief aid into a Boeing 747 destined for Nepal, just over a four-hour flight away.
The Gulf commercial hub is home to a sprawling logistical and warehouse facility known as International Humanitarian City that is used by United Nations agencies and NGOs to deploy humanitarian aid.
The chief executive of IHC, Shaima al-Zarooni, said relief workers have faced difficulties in delivering needed aid such as temporary shelters, satellite communications gear and medical equipment because of closures and congestion at the airport in Kathmandu.
The United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai, announced on Sunday it was deploying search-and-rescue team to Nepal on Sunday to help with recovery and relief efforts. More pics after cut....

Hairy and toothesome 'evil twin' extracted from woman's brain - video

Yamini Karanam's brain. File photo.
Image by: Shirley Cooksey via YouTube

Watch Video after cut..

Photo: Chile's Calbuco Volcano Eruption

The Calbuco volcano in southern Chile began erupting for the first time since 1972 on Wednesday, forcing nearly 1,500 residents of Ensenada, a village at the foot of the volcano in the south of the country, to flee to safer locations.

The volcano, which had been inactive for 42 years, spewed an ash cloud that rose at least 50,000 feet above the volcano, which erupted for the second time early Thursday, turning the sky into a dark reddish hue, the Associated Press (AP) reported, adding that Ensenada, which sits at the foot of the 6,500-foot peak, was covered in thick ash.

Photos: Senate President, David Mark Visit To Muhammadu Buhari

The Senate President, David Mark paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria's President Elect, Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2015. More pics after cut...