Boko Haram Launched a Huge Attack in Nigeria

The attacks took place in the city where Boko Haram was founded. “Boko Haram carried out its deadliest attacks on the key northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, killing scores in a series of coordinated bomb blasts. Police in the Borno state capital said at least 54 people died in Sunday’s co-ordinated strikes, with 90 injured, but residents caught up in the explosions said as many as 85 lost their lives.The attacks on Sunday night in the Ajilari Cross area and nearby Gomari, near the city’s airport, killed and maimed worshippers at a mosque, bystanders and football fans watching a televised match. The army and rescuers said the explosions were caused by homemade devices but one local and the police said a female suicide bomber also blew herself up.” (Vanguard http://bit.ly/1QuADPg)

Burkina Faso Coup Apparently Over…But the situation is very fluid. The army is apparently descending on Ouagadougou in an attempt to disarm the presidential guard units that pulled off the coup. “In a statement late on Monday, Gen Diendere said he was committed to handing over power to civil authorities based on the proposals of regional mediators. He also said he was prepared to release abducted Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida. The general said he “deplored the loss of life”, apologising to “the nation and the international community”. But he warned that the country could face “chaos, civil war and massive human rights violations”. Gen Diendere’s whereabouts are unknown, and there have been reports that he has taken refuge in the home of a traditional leader.” (BBC http://bbc.in/1QuzSFY)  

TB Drug Price Increase Rescinded…A huge overnight price increase for an important tuberculosis drug has been rescinded after the company that had acquired the drug gave it back to its previous owner under pressure. The drug, cycloserine, is used to treat about 40 patients a year who have tuberculosis that is resistant to most of the usual drugs. The rights to cycloserine had been acquired last month by Rodelis Therapeutics, which promptly raised the price for 30 capsules to $10,800, from $500, giving rise to concern among doctors who treat tuberculosis. But Rodelis has now returned the drug to its previous owner, a nonprofit manufacturing organization affiliated with Purdue University, according to a statement issued on Monday by the organization.” (NYT http://nyti.ms/1QuBbVh )

Africa

The Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese government force formed in mid-2013 and aimed at fighting rebel factions across Sudan, has allegedly not only committed war crimes, but serious crimes against humanity in Darfur, says a Human Rights Watch report. (IPS http://bit.ly/1FXIy1K)

The leaders of Uganda’s main political opposition parties met Monday in talks aimed at fronting a joint candidate to challenge the country’s long-serving leader in elections next year. (AP http://yhoo.it/1OpVZ2t)

South Sudan President Salva Kiir will not be attending a meeting at the United Nations later this month called by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to strengthen the ongoing peace process. (VOA http://bit.ly/1OpRK78)

Conditions in war-torn South Sudan have worsened with thousands fleeing fighting since a ceasefire deal three weeks ago, the United Nations has warned. (AFP http://yhoo.it/1OpW1ro)

The General Secretary of the Kenyan National Parents Association says the organization will file a suit next week to seek a court ruling that would force the government to reimburse parents for the fees they paid. (VOA http://bit.ly/1FXIVJQ)

MENA

The Lebanese government is launching a campaign to register 100,000 new students from among the Syrian refugee population in its already overwhelmed public schools. (AP http://yhoo.it/1KuM85D)

Two US citizens, one British national and three Saudis held for months by Yemen’s Houthi group, have been freed and have arrived in Oman, according to British and Omani officials as well as Houthi sources. (Al Jazeera http://bit.ly/1MnbVzl)

Asia

Police in Nepal shot and injured at least three protesters on Monday a day after the Himalayan nation adopted its first democratic constitution, dashing hopes that the historic event would put a stop to weeks of bloodshed in which some 40 people have died. (Reuters http://yhoo.it/1KuM8ma)

Bangladesh’s prime minister has dismissed accusations that democracy and rule of law are being undermined by her increasingly authoritarian behaviour and by extensive human rights abuses by the police and security forces. (Guardian http://bit.ly/1FXIWNK)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to form a government free from corruption, empower workers and end reliance on foreign aid, as she campaigned on Monday for the southeast Asian country’s first free national vote in 25 years. (Reuters http://yhoo.it/1gGAzj4)

The Americas

More than 9,000 people were left homeless after a powerful earthquake hit northern and central Chile last week, officials said Sunday, dramatically increasing previous estimates. (AFP http://yhoo.it/1KuMd9x)

The United States is reportedly considering abstaining from a potential U.N. General Assembly vote calling for an end to its long-standing trade embargo against Cuba. (VOA http://bit.ly/1OpRJA0)

Jamaica’s prime minister has told supporters that her administration passed every test of the International Monetary Fund during the island’s latest loan agreement. (AP http://yhoo.it/1KuM9qe)

…and the rest

Bitterly-divided European leaders will seek to find a credible response to the continent’s worst migration crisis since World War Two at an emergency summit this week. (Reuters http://bit.ly/1NOLXIi)

The number of carbon pricing schemes worldwide has almost doubled since 2012 but most taxes or markets have prices too low to prevent damaging global warming, the World Bank said on Sunday. (Reuters http://yhoo.it/1YvpFPa)

Opinion/Blogs

CNN’s Arwa Damon is Mark’s podcast guest. She’s discusses some of the toughest stories she’s covered from the middle east, her intriguing bi-cultural upbringing, and why she decided to start an NGO. (Global Dispatches Podcast http://bit.ly/1KvDvqu)

Burkina Faso has a draft deal to end the coup—but that doesn’t mean order will be restored (Quartz http://bit.ly/1j31jfz)

A Monument for the Mau Mau at last, but no land (Africa is a Country http://bit.ly/1Kv3DCK)

5 Myths European Leaders are Spreading about Refugees in Order to Scare People (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/1Jlh32i)

The case for upending humanitarian aid as we know it (and what I learned along the way) (Chris Blattman http://bit.ly/1FY19e5)

Top incomes drive inequality – so why does the inequality target ignore them? (Guardian http://bit.ly/1OpRMMn)

Operating in post-conflict environments: 4 challenges and how to tackle them (Devex http://bit.ly/1Oqa14k)

How low-tech farming innovations can make African farmers climate-resilient (The Conversation http://bit.ly/1OpXnlU)

The case against equality of opportunity (Vox http://bit.ly/1gGpjDe)

How The Mental Health System Struggles To Prevent Mass Shootings (NPR http://n.pr/1JkY5ZJ)

Reimagining scholarships: can big data reduce child absenteeism? (Guardian http://bit.ly/1OpRhlA)

7 ways Conservatives transformed foreign aid (Devex http://bit.ly/1NPa2yS)