Tanzania orders probe into “ghost workers” on government payroll
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has ordered a probe into “ghost workers” on the public sector payroll after a new audit revealed the government paid 141.4 billion Tanzanian shillings ($76.6 million) to fake workers over the…
Saudi blogger Badawi views survival of 50 lashes as miracle: magazine
BERLIN (Reuters) – Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has described in his first public remarks from prison how he “miraculously survived 50 lashes” as part of a conviction that sparked an international outcry, the German weekly Der Spiegel reported on S…
Pakistan militants deny 30 killed in renewed Khyber fighting
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan security forces killed 30 militants in gunbattles in the mountainous northwestern Khyber region on Saturday, a senior official said, but a spokesman for the militants denied suffering any losses.
Rift deepens in India’s Common Man party that challenged Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Two founding members of an Indian anti-establishment political party were ousted from its top decision-making panel on Saturday, deepening the rift in the party that is seen as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Mod…
At least 8 killed by gunmen in northeast Nigeria: APC spokesman
ABUJA (Reuters) – At least eight people including opposition house of assembly candidate for Dukku in northeastern Nigeria’s Gombe state were killed by unidentified gunmen, a spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) told Reuters on Saturday.
Bangladesh central bank governor says banks to be investigated for militant financing
DHAKA (Reuters) – The Bangladesh central bank governor said on Saturday all commercial banks would be investigated for links to Islamist militants and warned lenders would be shut down if found to be involved in funding such organizations.
Boko Haram gunmen kill six voters in northeast Nigeria
DAMATURU, Nigeria (Reuters) – Islamist Boko Haram insurgents launched two deadly attacks on voters in northeast Nigeria on Saturday, police and a security source said, killing six people in an election in which insecurity is a major issue.
Kenyan ministers, officials leave office pending corruption probe
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Five Kenyan ministers vacated their posts on Saturday to pave the way for investigations into corruption allegations, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s office said, days after he asked those named in a confidential report to do so.
Conservatives win mandate for privatization in Australia’s NSW state poll
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The conservative government of Australia’s New South Wales state won re-election on Saturday, clearing the way for the country’s largest privatization, a stake in a state-owned electricity network for an expected A$17 billion ($13 bi…
Four Iraqi soldiers killed fighting with Islamic State in Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Four Iraqi soldiers were killed in street fighting with Islamic State militants in Tikrit overnight as they advanced slowly into the city, a Sunni jihadist bastion, in the wake of coalition air strikes, a security official said.
