In Indonesia’s election, the winner is Widodo – and Islam
Two months before this week’s presidential election in Indonesia, prize-winning novelist Eka Kurniawan declared in an opinion column that “the Islamists have already won”.
South Africa faces escalating unrest if ANC doesn’t reform, opposition says
South Africa faces escalating unrest if the governing African National Congress (ANC) party retains power in next month’s election and fails to introduce major reforms, the leader of the country’s biggest opposition party said on Thursday.
India’s richest man backs candidate from main opposition party
India’s wealthiest man and its richest banker are backing a politician of Congress, the main opposition party, in general elections, a rare public endorsement by two of the country’s most influential businessmen.
Exclusive: Dispute flares among U.S. officials over Trump administration Iran arms control report – sources
(This April 17 story has been refiled to add dropped word in paragraph four.)
Scores missing, 13 dead in Congo boat accident: president
Thirteen people are dead and 142 still missing from a passenger boat that sank this week on Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the president said on Thursday.
North Korean leader Kim to meet Russia’s Putin this month: Kremlin
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will travel to Russia this month for talks with President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Thursday, announcing the first Russia-North Korea summit since Kim came to power in 2011.
Investigation into League official opens rift in Italian government
An investigation into corruption allegations against a junior minister from the far-right League prompted fresh conflict on Thursday within Italy’s already troubled government.
LVMH’s billionaire boss Arnault defends Notre-Dame donations
France’s richest man Bernard Arnault hit out on Thursday at critics of his rush to donate tens of millions of euros to the restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral, saying he would not benefit from tax breaks and branding the sniping as petty.
Foxconn’s Gou’s close China links could weigh on Taiwan election chances
While Foxconn chairman Terry Gou enters Taiwan’s rancorous political arena free of any political baggage, he could yet find himself weighed down by connections to Beijing forged during his pragmatic commercial rise.
Armed group attacks air base in southern Libya held by Haftar: officials
An armed group attacked a major air base in southern Libya held by eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar on Thursday after he moved most of his forces north to try to seize the capital Tripoli, officials said.
