Boko Haram exploits Nigeria’s slow military decline
ABUJA, May 8 – Two decades ago Nigeria’s military was seen as a force for stability across West Africa. Now it struggles to keep security within its own borders as an Islamist insurgency in the northeast kills thousands.
Finland’s Social Democrats oust finance minister Urpilainen
SEINAJOKI, Finland (Reuters) – Finnish Social Democrats on Friday narrowly voted to replace their leader and finance minister Jutta Urpilainen with a more leftist candidate in a move that could complicate government efforts to curb debt.
Russia stages big Victory Day parade amid Ukraine crisis
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Tanks rumbled across Red Square and fighter jets screamed overhead on Friday in Russia’s biggest Victory Day military parade in years, fuelling patriotic fervor as President Vladimir Putin rallies his people over the Ukraine crisis.
Cold War chill may warm voters to EU, leaders hope
BERLIN (Reuters) – They may denounce Vladimir Putin in public but mainstream EU leaders may quietly thank Russia’s president for one thing – talk of World War Three over Ukraine could teach voters to stop carping and love the European Union.
Brazil’s Rousseff drops in new election poll, rivals gain
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Support for President Dilma Rousseff among Brazilian voters has fallen and her main rivals have advanced, reducing her chances of an outright win in the October 5 election, a new poll by Datafolha showed on Friday.
Budget-strapped Israeli military banks on future US aid
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Budget-strapped Israel is pressing the United States to conclude a deal extending defense aid beyond 2017, when Washington’s current $3 billion annual payouts to its Middle East ally expire, officials said on Friday.
‘Election’ massacres of Muslims darken India immigration debate
NARAYANGURI, India (Reuters) – From his hiding place in a cowshed, Sefaqul Islam watched as masked gunmen moved through his village, shot women and children dead with automatic rifles and tossed wounded survivors into the blazing remains of their homes…
Italy’s Berlusconi starts community service at old people’s home
CESANO BOSCONE, Italy (Reuters) – A somber and silent Silvio Berlusconi entered a Catholic old people’s home outside Milan on Friday to begin community service as part of a one-year sentence for tax fraud.
Bulgarian government expected to survive fourth confidence vote
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s Socialist-led government is expected to survive a confidence vote in parliament, its fourth in seven months, called for on Friday by the opposition ahead of European elections.
South Sudan’s president in Ethiopia for talks with rebel leader
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir arrived on Friday in Ethiopia’s capital for the first face-to-face talks with rebel leader Riek Machar to try to end four months of conflict and avert a possible genocide.
