‘Several killed’ in blast at Ethiopian PM’s rally
AFP, Addis Ababa
Several people were killed Saturday in a blast at new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s first rally in the capital attended by tens of thousands of people, state media reported.
Abiy had just wrapped up his speech in the heart of Addis Ababa when the explosion went off, sending panicked crowds towards the stage as the prime minister left hurriedly, an AFP correspondent said.
Rio rally demands legal abortion
AP, Rio De Janeiro
Hundreds of women marched in Rio de Janeiro on Friday to demand the legalization of abortion in Brazil.
The march followed a breakthrough for abortion supporters in neighboring Argentina, where the lower house of congress approved a bill this month that would legalize elective abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
6 militants, 2 soldiers dead in Pak clash
AP, Pakistan
Pakistan’s army says it killed six militants in a search operation in South Waziristan near the Afghan border where two soldiers were also killed in the clash.
A military statement says the operation was conducted Saturday in the Spina Mela area based on information that some militants entered there from Afghanistan disguised as tribesmen being repatriated into the area.
EU poll observers deploy in Zimbabwe election
AP, Harare
The European Union has deployed election observers in Zimbabwe for the first time in 16 years as the country prepares for its first vote since independence without longtime leader Robert Mugabe.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe ally who took office after Mugabe stepped down in November under military pressure, has invited dozens of observers for the historic July 30 vote.
47 more coup supporters held in Turkey
Reuters, Istanbul
Turkish police have detained 47 people in an operation targeting alleged supporters within the army of a network accused by Ankara of orchestrating a failed military coup two years ago, private broadcaster CNN Turk said on Saturday.
The operation, which began on Tuesday, targeted 124 people accused of being followers of U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, CNN Turk said.
Netanyahu’s wife indicted for fraud
HuffPost
Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was on Thursdayofficially indicted on charges of aggravated fraud and breach of trust, according to the Justice Ministry.
The indictment charged that Sara Netanyahu and a government employee misused state money by obtaining $100,000 for catered meals while falsely claiming the prime minister’s residence did not employ a cook.
Regulations forbid ordering prepared food when a cook is employed at the residence.
