Venezuela’s Maduro rails at ‘stupid’ U.S. sanctions calls
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reacted furiously to calls in the United States for punitive measures against his government for alleged rights abuses in response to three months of street protests.
Brazil deploys troops to secure borders for World Cup
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil began deploying 30,000 troops on Saturday to patrol its borders and beef up security for the World Cup soccer tournament that will kick off in 12 Brazilian cities next month, the Defense Ministry said.
Central African Republic’s Seleka rebels pick new commander, say to regroup
BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic’s former Seleka rebel coalition has appointed a new army commander and plans to regroup its scattered fighters, a spokesman said on Saturday, a move that could further deepen divisions in the war-torn country…
Egypt charges 200 Islamist militants with bombings, other violence
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s public prosecutor charged 200 suspected Islamist militants on Saturday with “founding, leading and joining a terrorist organization” and launching bomb and rocket attacks across the country.
Two U.S. embassy officers involved in Yemen firefight, left Sanaa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two U.S. embassy officers shot and killed two armed people after an attempted abduction in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in April, the State Department said on Saturday.
PM Orban calls for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians beyond borders
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary will stand up for its rights within the European Union and wants autonomy for ethnic Hungarians living beyond its borders in central Europe, including Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday.
Nigerian army posts two divisions to hunt for missing girls
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s Army has posted two divisions to hunt for 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by Islamist rebels in an attack condemned globally including by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday.
China’s President Xi Jinping calls for more land transfers
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s President Xi Jinping has called for the acceleration of land transfers to help modernize the country’s agriculture, state media reported on Saturday.
Merkel plays down hope of quick deal on next Commission president
STRALSUND, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried on Saturday to douse hopes of a quick agreement on the next European Commission president after the May 22-25 European parliament elections, warning this could take several weeks.
Pakistan Taliban chief makes last-ditch bid to assert authority
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – The head of the Pakistani Taliban is making a last-ditch bid to stamp his authority on the increasingly divided insurgency by ordering a top commander sacked, Taliban sources said Saturday.
