Nigeria opposition party suspends election campaign over suspension of judge
Nigeria’s main opposition party has suspended its presidential election campaign for 72 hours in protest at the suspension of the country’s most senior judge by President Muhammadu Buhari, it said on Saturday.
Philippine referendum returns big ‘yes’ vote on Bangsamoro self-rule
A predominantly Muslim area of the southern Philippines has returned a resounding “Yes” in this week’s referendum on greater autonomy, boosting hopes for peace in one of Asia’s most conflict-torn regions.
Thousands protest Australia Day legacy
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Australia on Saturday calling for the abolition of the Jan. 26 national holiday in protests showing a deep division over a festivity intended to celebrate the birth of modern Australia.
Cuba urges Colombia, ELN rebels to follow peace talks protocol
Cuba called on the Colombian government and ELN rebels on Friday to follow the protocol of the peace talks it had been hosting and implement measures needed, including security guarantees, to allow 10 ELN leaders in Havana to return to Colombia.
U.S. pushes U.N. Security Council to back Venezuela’s Guaido
The United States is pushing for a United Nations Security Council statement expressing full support for Venezuela’s National Assembly as the country’s “only democratically elected institution,” but Russia is expected to block the move, diplomats said …
Spanish rescuers find body of toddler trapped in well
Spanish rescuers on Saturday found the dead body of a two-year-old boy who had fallen into a deep narrow well in southern Spain on Jan. 13, a Spanish official said.
Hundreds missing after Vale dam burst at Brazil mine, seven bodies found
Brazilian rescuers were searching for some 200 missing people after a tailings dam burst on Friday at an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA, the second major dam disaster involving the company in just over three years.
Russia warns against setting deadlines for Libya elections
Setting deadlines for elections in Libya is counterproductive as the political players need to agree first on a political solution to end the country’s conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
U.S. steps up pressure on Maduro as Russia backs Venezuelan ally
The United States on Friday signaled it was ready to step up economic measures to try to drive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power as some U.S. diplomats left the embassy in Caracas and Russia vowed to back its socialist South American ally….
Pope condemns ‘senseless’ stigmatizing of migrants
Pope Francis said on Friday it was “senseless and irresponsible” to stigmatize migrants and see all of them as threats to society, weighing in again on one of the most divisive issues in the United States.
