Kenya orders audit to stamp out public payroll fraud
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s president on Thursday ordered an audit of the public sector payroll to end the practice of corrupt officials claiming salaries on behalf of “ghost employees” – workers who have died, retired or deserted their duties.
UK completes military cuts, says it remains worthy U.S. partner
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain on Thursday announced the final part of a plan to shrink its armed forces by around a sixth to save money, but said it could still project force globally and be a worthy partner to the United States on the battlefield.
Indian woman says gang-raped on orders of village court
KOLKATA, Jan 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A 20-year-old woman in eastern India was gang-raped by 13 men on the orders of a village court as punishment for having a relationship with a man from a different community, a senior police officer said on…
Clashes in Central African Republic as new leader sworn in
BANGUI (Reuters) – Two people were shot dead in Central African Republic on Thursday in a clash that highlighted the scale of the task facing new interim President Catherine Samba-Panza as she took the oath of office.
IAEA expected to win member state backing for expanded Iran role
VIENNA (Reuters) – Several countries are expected to voice readiness on Friday to help pay for the U.N. atomic watchdog’s expanded role in Iran to monitor a nuclear deal with six world powers, diplomats said, suggesting funding will not be a problem.
Rights group says Muslims massacred in Myanmar amid official denials
YANGON (Reuters) – Security forces in western Myanmar massacred at least 40 Rohingya Muslims last week in a new outburst of violence since the end of military rule in 2011, a human rights group said on Thursday, despite official denials.
Chile president-elect’s proposals enjoy broad support: poll
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chile’s president-elect Michelle Bachelet will embark on a second term, riding a wave of popular support that includes widespread backing for her key policy proposals, according to a poll released on Thursday.
Merkel, SPD try to smooth over bumpy start to coalition government
MESEBERG, Germany (Reuters) – Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-left partners tried to allay concerns about a rocky start to their month-old coalition on Thursday, saying they had a clear road map ahead after two days of talks north …
Britain may order 14 F-35 jets as early as next week: sources
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain may announce an order for 14 Lockheed Martin-built F-35 super-stealth jets as early as next week, three sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.
U.N. aid chief seeks ceasefires at Syria talks
MONTREUX, Switzerland (Reuters) – The United Nations hopes that political talks between the warring sides in Syria will clinch local ceasefires to allow vital food and medicines to reach millions of civilians, the U.N. humanitarian chief said on Thursd…
