Botswana votes in first real challenge to ruling party
Botswana voted on Wednesday in a general election that is expected to provide the first genuine challenge to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in its five decades of dominance over southern Africa’s wealthiest and most stable nation.
France gives tentative nod to Lebanese government over reforms
France said on Tuesday that it was encouraging the Lebanese government to push ahead with the necessary reforms to restore the economy and that it remained committed to putting into action decisions made at a donor’s conference last year.
Israel’s Netanyahu down but not out after failing to form government
For the first time in a decade, someone other than Benjamin Netanyahu will be asked to form a government in Israel.
Brazil pension reform poised for final approval, stocks hit record high
Brazil’s Senate Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday approved the text of a pension reform bill, paving the way for a second and final plenary vote later in the day that will finally enact the landmark bill into law.
South African airlines ground flights after faults found at SAA maintenance unit
South African Airways (SAA) and other carriers grounded aircraft and canceled domestic flights on Tuesday after South Africa’s aviation regulator instructed the loss-making state airline to address problems at its maintenance unit.
Armed man hits pedestrians with hijacked ambulance in Oslo -police
An armed man stole an ambulance in Oslo on Tuesday, lightly injuring five people including two babies in an apparent attempt to target pedestrians, Norwegian police and hospital officials told Reuters.
Chile military says ‘nothing to hide’ amid allegations of rights violations in riots
Chile’s military said it would investigate allegations of human rights violations in days of riots, looting and protests throughout the country that have left 15 dead and led to the arrest of more than 2,600.
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine jail journalist for 15 years for spying
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine said on Tuesday they had sentenced a journalist to 15 years in prison after a court found him guilty of spying on behalf of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service.
Two Iraqi police commanders, four others killed in militant attack: sources
Six police officers including two senior commanders were killed in northern Iraq on Tuesday when Islamic State militants opened fire on them during a reconnaissance mission, security sources said.
Polish opposition follows government in challenging Senate results
Poland’s opposition challenged results in three districts in elections for parliament’s upper house on Tuesday, setting the scene for a dispute over a tight result a day after the ruling party submitted requests for recounts in other districts.
