African beacon Botswana prepares for tight election
GABORONE (Reuters) – Botswana will on Friday hold what are expected to be its closest elections since gaining independence from Britain 48 years ago as President Ian Khama’s ruling party faces growing dissent in a country often heralded as a beacon of …
Japan PM’s new minister hit by scandal over racy bar bill
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s new trade minister on Thursday called his support group’s spending at a racy bar “inappropriate,” but declined to sell shares in Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant his ministry supervis…
Burkina Faso opposition challenges president’s bid to extend term
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Opposition parties in Burkina Faso called on Wednesday for nationwide protests against moves to lift a two-term limit on the presidency, accusing President Blaise Compaore of preparing a “constitutional coup d’etat”.
Lebanese army kills three men in raid: security sources
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s army killed three men and arrested several others during a raid on an apartment containing weapons and ammunition where authorities suspected an attack was being planned, security sources said on Thursday.
Exporters fail on pledge to curb bribery: watchdog
BERLIN (Reuters) – Big exporting nations are breaking their pledge to fight corruption in global trade, with more than half of the countries that have signed an anti-bribery convention failing to implement it, a report by Transparency International (TI…
At U.N., China asked to back rights case against North Korea
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The chief U.N. investigator into human rights cases in North Korea said on Wednesday he has appealed to China to support calls to refer Pyongyang’s actions to The Hague on suspicion of crimes against humanity.
China says wants closer military ties with Iran
BEIJING (Reuters) – China wants to have closer military ties with Iran, the Chinese defense minister told the visiting head of the Iranian navy on Thursday, state media reported, reaffirming diplomatic links despite controversy over Iran’s nuclear plan…
Bomb blast kills five at bus station in north Nigeria: police
ABUJA (Reuters) – A bomb exploded at a bus station in northern Nigeria’s Bauchi state late on Wednesday, killing at least five people and wounding 12, police said.
UK anti-EU party on course to win second parliamentary seat: poll
LONDON (Reuters) – The UK Independence Party (UKIP), which wants Britain to pull out of the European Union, is on course to win its second parliamentary seat as voters desert Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives, according to the latest opinion…
Japan prosecutors set to rule on possible Fukushima indictments
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese prosecutors must decide this month whether to charge Tokyo Electric Power Co former executives for their handling of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, in a process that could drag the wrecked nuclear plant’s operator into criminal…
