U.S. cancels funds for Afghan opinion polls ahead of election
KABUL (Reuters) – The United States has canceled funding for opinion polls in the run-up to Afghanistan’s presidential election, a U.S.-funded group said, after a first poll in December triggered accusations of U.S. attempts to manipulate the outcome.
Zimbabweans round on ‘fat cat’ state executives
HARARE (Reuters) – It’s not just Wall Street or London’s Square Mile where “fat cat” salaries trigger banner headlines and howls of outrage from activists and lawmakers.
UK’s Cameron unhappy newspapers still printing Snowden data leaks
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday he was unhappy that newspapers were still publishing sensitive information leaked by former U.S. intelligence operative Edward Snowden and urged them to stop.
Sandbags and security in Shi’ite Beirut after bombings
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Eight years ago Hassan Ghamlouche’s jewellery shop was gutted when Israeli jets bombarded the Hezbollah-controlled district of southern Beirut where he works.
Potatoes for a week: a South African platinum miner on strike
MERITING, South Africa (Reuters) – South African miner Venter Mulutsi has one food item in his small fridge: a bag of potatoes that he hopes will last a week.
Insight: After Syria, al Qaeda expanding in Lebanon
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Faced with recent setbacks in Iraq and Syria, al Qaeda is slowly but firmly gaining influence in Lebanon, helped by the country’s increasing sectarian violence and the turmoil caused by Syria’s civil war, sources close to the group s…
Gunmen kidnap son of Libyan special forces chief
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Gunmen kidnapped the son of the Libyan army’s special forces commander on Thursday, the latest high-profile abduction in the eastern city of Benghazi where the military has been battling Islamist militants.
Exclusive: Disputed Congo report says miners owe $3.7 billion in tax, fines
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo is owed an estimated $3.7 billion in unpaid customs duties and fines by companies operating in its copper-rich Katanga province between 2008 and 2013, according to an unpublished report commissioned by …
Support crumbles in east Libya for oil blockade leader
AJDABIYA, Libya (Reuters) – Support is ebbing in east Libya for a six month blockade of its three oil ports, and for former rebel commander Ibrahim al-Jathran whose force led the seizure.
U.S. urges South Sudan to free last detainees to secure peace
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The United States called on South Sudan on Thursday to release the last four of a group of detainees held on suspicion of trying to stage a coup, a move that could clear a major sticking point in talks to end weeks of fighting.
