Brazil: Thousands of pro-Bolsonaro protesters demand reforms

BRASILIA, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets across Brazil on Sunday in a protest seen as a gauge of the embattled leader’s popularity only five months into his term. Waving Brazilian flags and chanting Bolsonaro’s nickname “Mito” or “Myth,” protesters wearing…

Lithuania’s Nauseda wins presidential election

VILNIUS, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former central bank board member and economist Gitanas Nauseda won Lithuania’s presidential election on Sunday after his opponent Ingrida Simonyte conceded. Nauseda, 55, had 74 per cent of the vote, according to election authority results after a quarter of the ballots were counted. Ingrida Simonyte,…

Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia denounce decision on Amazon domain

LIMA, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The presidents of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia criticised a recent decision by the organisation that manages internet protocol to grant global retailer Amazon the rights to the .amazon domain. Amazon Inc has been seeking the exclusive rights to the .amazon domain name since 2012. But…

Haitians march against rape after students sexually assaulted

PORT-AU-PRINCE, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,000 Haitians took to the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince on Sunday to denounce sexual violence in the country after two students were gang-raped this week. Marchers dressed in white walked to the city centre from the university where one of the recent victims…

Sudan: Islamists back army in push to preserve sharia

KHARTOUM, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With talks suspended between protest leaders and Sudan’s military over a transfer of power to civilian rule, Islamist movements are backing the army in the hope it will keep sharia law in place. Islamist parties stayed on the sidelines during the months of nationwide protests that…

Madagascar goes to polls in latest battle of bitter political feud

ANTANARIVO, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madagascar holds parliamentary elections Monday (May 27) in what is being seen as the latest round of a bitter feud between President Andry Rajoelina and his longstanding rival Marc Ravalomanana. Beaten to the top job in December, Ravalomanana has been everywhere to support the candidates…

Militants kill at least 25 Nigerian soldiers, some civilians in ambush

ABUJA, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Insurgents killed at least 25 soldiers and a number of civilians in an ambush in northeast Nigeria, the second deadly attack on the army within a week.Militants opened fire as the soldiers were on Saturday escorting a group of evacuees from a village in Borno…

Divorce referendum: Ireland votes to liberalise laws

DUBLIN, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — People in the Republic of Ireland have voted overwhelmingly in favour of liberalising divorce laws, in a referendum held on Saturday.The constitution currently states that spouses must be separated for four of the previous five years to divorce.But that clause will now be removed, allowing…

Malta rescues 216 migrants

VALLETTA, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Maltese armed forces patrol boat picked up more than 200 migrants from two dinghies in the Mediterranean and fetched them to Malta, a spokesman said.At least one pregnant woman and a number of children were believed to be among the 216 rescued migrants. Their…

Update: European elections 2019: Power blocs lose grip on Parliament

BRUSSELS, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The big centre-right and centre-left blocs in the European Parliament have lost their combined majority amid an increase in support for liberals, Greens and nationalists.The centre-right European People’s Party remains the largest bloc, and is expected to form a pro-EU coalition.The Liberals and Greens had…