NIGERIA
Troops approved for Mali
A bloc of West African nations has agreed to send 3,000 troops to stabilize Mali, Nigerian state-run TV reported late Sunday. The decision came late Sunday at the end of an emergency summit in Lagos. Mutinous soldiers overthrew Mali’s democratically elected president more than seven months ago, creating a power vacuum that paved the way for Islamists to grab the north.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Ivory shipment seized
Customs authorities in Dubai have seized ivory worth as much as $4.1 million from more than 100 poached elephants. Authorities at the Jebel Ali Port seized the ivory hidden in a shipment of green beans. Conservationists say poaching, especially in central Africa, now reduces elephant numbers by 60,000 every year. Port cities like Dubai are key transport hubs for ivory, most of it destined for China.
SLOVENIA
Presidential runoff likely
No candidate appeared to win an outright majority in Sunday’s presidential election in Slovenia, and a runoff is expected next month between the incumbent and a former prime minister. Former Prime Minister Borut Pahor was first with 40 percent of the vote, followed by President Danilo Turk, with 36.2 percent and center-right candidate Milan Zver at 24 percent, the state election commission said after 99.9 percent of the ballots were counted.
IRELAND
Children’s rights widened
Official returns show that voters have approved an amendment to insert stronger rights for children into Ireland’s constitution with a narrower-than-expected 57.4 percent “yes” vote. Only a third of registered voters participated in Saturday’s referendum, reflecting a low-key campaign. All political parties and children’s charities supported the “yes” side. Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Sunday the amendment will allow his government to pass laws making it easier for Irish children to be adopted, for courts to remove children from abusive homes and for children to testify in court.
Compiled from wire reports.
