The midwestern U.S. state of Minnesota is home to an estimated seventy thousand Somali immigrants. It is the largest Somali community outside of Africa, made up mostly of refugees who have fled decades of war in their home country. But in recent months, a number of young Somali men have disappeared and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation believes some of them went to Somalia to fight with the Islamist extremist group, al-Shabab. As VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports from Minneapolis, the disappearances are a troubling development for law enforcement agencies, and a shock to the community where many of the young men grew up.
The World Cup football tournament kicks off in one week, and host South Africa is busy putting on the finishing touches. But not everyone is looking forward to the tournament. Authorites in cities including Cape Town are being accused of clearing the poor from the streets - to create a good impression for visiting fans. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa has more.