South Africa’s Zuma sees no vote impact from $23 million home upgrade row
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday brushed off suggestions an anti-corruption report criticizing a $23 million state-funded security upgrade to his home would damage his party at an election this week.
Russia’s Putin outlaws denial of Nazi crimes
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday making the denial of Nazi crimes and distortion of the Soviet Union’s role in the World War Two a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail.
Kerry keeps pressure on South Sudan rebel leader as fighting rages
JUBA/LUANDA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry threatened sanctions against South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar on Monday if he spurned peace negotiations, as government forces battled for control of the northern oil town of Bentiu.
Empty seat as Saudi prisoner skips Guantanamo review hearing
ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) – A Saudi inmate suspected of being an al Qaeda recruiter stayed away from a parole-style hearing at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison on Monday because he objects to a body search, leaving the board to face an empty…
Sudanese police fire tear gas at student protesters
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Riot police fired tear gas at dozens of Sudanese students protesting against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday, witnesses said.
Frenchman shot dead in Yemeni capital: sources
SANAA (Reuters) – Gunmen shot dead a Frenchman working for the EU mission in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Monday, government and security sources said, as the army waged an offensive against al Qaeda in the south of the country.
Support for Venezuela’s Maduro drops to 37 percent: report
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s approval rating dropped to 37 percent in April, according to a new poll quoted in a local newspaper on Monday.
South Africa platinum firms: strikers intimidated not to accept offer
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The world’s top platinum producers said on Monday that striking South African miners were afraid to accept the companies’ latest wage offer because of “threats to their personal safety”.
Kenyan government defends security efforts after weekend bombings
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s government defended the efforts of its security services on Monday despite deadly weekend bombings, seven months after the Westgate shopping mall attack, and said it has foiled many other plots.
President names new Algerian government with Yousfi as oil minister
ALGIERS, May 5, Reuters – Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has named a new cabinet after his election to a fourth term, reappointing Youcef Yousfi as energy minister in the North African OPEC oil producer, state news agency APS reported on Monda…
