News In Brief
AFP, Paris
France has charged eight men, including three minors, following an investigation into far-right activists allegedly plotting to target politicians and mosques, prosecutors announced Saturday in Paris.
The men-aged between 17 and 29 — are accused of being party to a “criminal terrorist conspiracy”, and of links to Logan Alexandre Nisin, a militant who was arrested near Marseille in June.
Putin critic Navalny released
Reuters, Moscow
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on social media on Sunday he had been released from detention after spending around three weeks in jail.
Navalny was detained by police in late September and sentenced to 20 days in jail on charges of repeatedly violating laws by organizing public meeting and rallies.
After release, Navalny also said on social media he planned to speak at a political meeting in the provincial town of Astrakhan in southern Russia later on Sunday.
Slovenian President seeks re-election
AP, Ljubljana
Slovenians were voting in a presidential election Sunday that is expected to be an easy re-election for President Borut Pahor, a veteran politician and former model known for his use of social media.
Some 1.7 million voters were choosing among nine presidential candidates – including five women – for the largely ceremonial but influential post. This nation in Central Europe is a member of the European Union and the homeland of U.S. first lady Melania Trump.
WHO chief ‘rethinking’ after Mugabe honour outrage
AFP, Geneva
The head of the World Health Organization said Saturday that he was “rethinking” his decision to name Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe a goodwill ambassador, as global outrage over the move mounted.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the UN health agency, had this week asked Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old authoritarian leader to serve in the role to help tackle non-communicable diseases like heart attacks, strokes and asthma across Africa.
10 killed after goods truck overturns in India
Xinhua, New Delhi
At least 10 people were killed and 12 others injured Saturday after a goods truck carrying tiles overturned in western Indian state of Maharashtra, police said.
The accident took place near Tasagoan in Sangli district, about 365 km southwest of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.
“Today a goods truck carrying tiles overturned here killing 10 people and injuring 12 others,” a police official posted in Tasagoan police station told Xinhua.
