Kabila ally floats possibility of Congo referendum on term limits
KINSHASA (Reuters) – A top ally of Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Saturday raised the possibility of a constitutional referendum to alter the number of terms he can serve, defying opponents and western powers who insist Kabila should leave office…
Boko Haram attack in southeastern Niger kills 32 soldiers
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Thirty soldiers from Niger and two from Nigeria were killed in a Boko Haram attack by “hundreds of assailants” on Friday on the southeastern town of Bosso close to the border with Nigeria, the Niger defense ministry said on Saturday….
Shi’ite militia says it will storm Iraq’s Falluja when families leave
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An Iranian-backed Sh’ite Iraqi militia said on Saturday it planned to storm Falluja, Islamic State’s stronghold near Baghdad, once civilians left the city, backtracking on earlier statements that it would leave this task to the Iraq…
Seventeen detainees escape from Bahraini prison
DUBAI (Reuters) – Seventeen detainees escaped from a prison in Bahrain, police said on Saturday, and the government warned citizens against giving them shelter.
Philippines’ Duterte tells mining companies to ‘shape up’
DAVAO, Philippines (Reuters) – Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte warned mining companies to “shape up”, as he signaled he would prefer ownership of mining assets to be left to local investors.
U.S. flexes muscles as Asia worries about South China Sea row
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The United States stepped up pressure on China on Saturday to rein in its actions in the South China Sea, with top defense officials underlining Washington’s military superiority and vowing to remain the main guarantor of Asian se…
Cuba’s Castros are clearly robust, Raul quips after 85th birthday
HAVANA (Reuters) – The day after his 85th birthday, Cuba’s President Raul Castro quipped that the Castros were clearly “robust and long-lived” and he could easily manage several more five-year terms although he would stick to his promise to step down i…
German music festival halted after lightning strikes injure 71
MENDIG, Germany (Reuters) – A rock music festival in Germany was halted for five hours on Saturday with organizers urging more than 90,000 fans to seek shelter in cars and tents as another thunderstorm approached hours after lightning strikes injured 7…
U.S. warns Islamist militants planning attacks in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The United States warned its citizens on Saturday of possible attacks by Islamist militants on U.S. facilities or shopping malls in South Africa during the upcoming month of Ramadan, but the South African government said the co…
14 missing after boat overturns in southwest China
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Fourteen people are missing after a leisure boat capsized in strong winds on a lake in southwest China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing the local government.
