Tag Archives: World

Madagascar's president names new prime minister amid public discontent

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Madagascar’s president named a new prime minister after months of widespread discontent at the performance of his government. President Hery Rajaonarimampianina named Air Force Gen. Jean Ravelonarivo as the new head of government late Wednesday. Ravelonarivo replaces Roger Kolo who resigned Monday along with the entire government. …

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Wall at warehouse being built in Philippines collapses, killing at least 10 workers

MANILA, Philippines – Police say a concrete wall at a warehouse being built in the Philippines has collapsed, killing at least 10 workers. They say five other workers were seriously injured in the collapse Monday in Guiguinto town in Bulacan province just north of Manila. A police report said the …

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International prosecutor calls for renewed push to arrest Kony after commander arrives at ICC

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court urged renewed efforts Wednesday to arrest notorious militia leader Joseph Kony, after one of his top commanders was taken into custody to face charges of leading a reign of terror in central Africa. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a …

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Congo lawmakers approve revised electoral law after scrapping provision that sparked protests

KINSHASA, Congo – Lawmakers in Congo have approved a new version of the country’s electoral law after scrapping a provision that opposition leaders said was intended to prolong the president’s time in power. Both the Senate and the National Assembly passed the law on Sunday. It now heads to President …

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Sri Lanka's new gov't to return private lands in civil war-ravaged north, release detainees

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A Sri Lankan minister says the country’s new government plans to give back military-held private land in the country’s war-ravaged north and release detainees in apparent moves at post-civil war reconciliation with ethnic minority Tamils. Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters late Wednesday that his government …

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French, German leaders heading to Ukraine with new peace initiaitive

PARIS – French President Francois Hollande says he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are heading to Ukraine with a new peace initiative. Speaking at a news conference in Paris and describing the Ukrainian conflict as a war, Hollande said the two will go to Kiev on Thursday and then head …

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IMF to offer $17.6 billion to promote economic reform in Ukraine

BRUSSELS – The International Monetary Fund has agreed to provide Ukraine with 15.5 billion euros ($17.6 billion) to help support economic reforms. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday that “this new program offers an important opportunity for Ukraine to move its economy forward at a critical moment in the …

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It's mud madness: Brazilian Carnival party dispenses with costumes, revels in slime

PARATY, Brazil – Mud madness has taken over at a Brazilian Carnival street party where a mineral-rich black slime is a substitute for more traditional costumes. Thousands of revelers from throughout Brazil and beyond converged Saturday at a beach near the colonial city of Paraty for the “Bloco da Lama,” …

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Bosnian police arrests suspected Islamic State fighters and their financiers

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Bosnian police have arrested six men suspected of supporting the Islamic State group, including two who allegedly were preparing to go to Syria to fight and were arrested at Sarajevo airport. Police say others were suspected of financing terrorist groups and recruiting fighters. A police statement on …

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Hadi, a once-quiet leader of a fractious Yemen, strikes defiant pose by reclaiming presidency

CAIRO – Virtually powerless for months, Yemen’s embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi looked ready to leave the country after fleeing Shiite rebels who seized the capital in September and held him captive in his own home for weeks. But the soft-spoken technocrat who has long avoided the limelight stepped …

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