Zuma’s fate
PRETORIA – South Africa’s African National Congress party executive committee has decided to “recall” or remove President Jacob Zuma as head of state after a 13-hour meeting of the party’s top leadership. The party’s executive committee has the authority to order Zuma to step down as head of state.
Torture probe
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s military has opened an investigation into reports that members of its 1000-strong, UN-mandated peacekeeping contingent in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo assaulted and tortured locals. A military statement said “corrective actions” would ensue if the reports, which had come from Congolese citizens, were found to be true.
‘Good Dog’
NEW YORK – For the nearly 3000 dogs converging on New York City on Monday for the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, “Good Dog!” is a dreaded assessment but “Best Dog!” is a dream come true. This year’s two-day event draws challengers from all 50 US states and 16 other countries.
Mexican search
MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities are searching for two kidnapped organised crime law enforcement agents shown on an online video surrounded by masked gunmen. The video posted online this weekend shows the two agents, part of the attorney-general’s organised crime unit SEIDO, kneeling and with their hands tied.
Improving ties
ZAGREB – Croatia and Serbia vowed on Monday to intensify work on minority rights, border issues and searches for missing persons from their 1990s war, in an effort to improve. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic held talk at the beginning of a two-day official visit by Vicic to Croatia.
Sewer threat
MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered an urgent clean-up of the country’s most famous tourist hot spot, Boracay, calling it a “sewer pool” that he would not hesitate to shut down completely. He has given environment to fix up the mess on Boracay island.
Earthquake
BEIJING – A rare small earthquake rattled the Chinese capital Beijing on Monday, centered in an area just south of the city. The 4.3 magnitude quake’s epicentre was in a county that is part of Hebei’s Langfang city. There were no immediate reports of any damage.
Soldier dead
JAKARTA – Armed separatists shot dead an Indonesian soldier on Monday during a gunfight at a market place in the remote easternmost province of Papua, a military spokesman said. Papua has suffered a simmering separatist conflict since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised UN-backed referendum in 1969.
