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UK

Brexit: Get out now, EU tells Britain

European leaders told Britain on Tuesday to act quickly to resolve the political and economic chaos unleashed by its vote to leave the European Union, a move the IMF said could put pressure on global growth.

European countries are concerned about the impact of the uncertainty created by Britain’s vote to leave on the 27 other EU member states. There is little idea of when, or even if, the country will formally declare it is quitting.

“The process for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union must start as soon as possible,” French President Francois Hollande said. “I can’t imagine any British government would not respect the choice of its own people.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sent a similar message, saying “We cannot be embroiled in lasting uncertainty.”

But those who campaigned for Britain’s leave vote have made clear they hope to negotiate a new deal for the country with the EU before triggering the formal exit process. European leaders have said that is not an option. “No notification, no negotiation,” Juncker said.

ZAMBIA

Police detain newspaper editors in tax row

Zambian police detained three people including two editors of a newspaper critical of the government that was shut down last week, as tensions rose in the run up to elections in August.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) shut down the Post newspaper last week, demanding $6 million in unpaid taxes but the newspaper accused the authorities of trying to silence it, and claimed the outstanding bill was part of a court dispute.

Tax officials have not commented on the matter, but Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Monday defended the ZRA’s action, saying it did so to recoup unpaid taxes.

On Tuesday, the Post’s managing editor Joan Chirwa said police arrested its editor-in-chief Fred Mmembe, his wife Mutinta and deputy managing editor Joseph Mwenda late on Monday.

“This was after the trio gained entry into the Post newspaper’s head office in Rhodespark following a stay granted by the court restraining ZRA from seizing the newspaper’s property,” Chirwa said.

SOUTH SUDAN

Rebel, army clashes kill 43 near Wau

At least 43 people were killed in fighting between armed groups and government forces around the northwest South Sudanese town of Wau last week, a government official said on Tuesday.

Thousands fled the clashes in the world’s newest country, still hit by violence almost five years after securing its independence from former civil war foe Sudan, and months after a peace deal with rebels inside its own borders.

Government forces had battled fighters loyal to Ali Tamin Fatan, a militia leader trying to control territory further west near the border with Central African Republic, government spokesman Makuei Lueth told reporters.

“So far up to this morning the report which I got is that there are 39 (civilian) bodies and another four belong to police,” Lueth said. Numbers could rise, he added, as there were currently no casualty figures from the army.

UNITED STATES

Military failed Americans in Benghazi, says House

The US military failed to protect four Americans who died in attacks on a US compound in the Libyan city of Benghazi, says a Congressional report.

The Obama administration was criticised for lax security and a slow response to the 2012 attacks on a US compound, in the report by House Republicans.

But they found no new evidence of wrongdoing by ex-Secretary of State and White House hopeful Hillary Clinton.

The issue has long haunted her on the campaign trail.

Islamic militants stormed the US compound in the Libyan city of Benghazi in 2012, killing four Americans including ambassador Chris Stevens.

Earlier this year, Mrs Clinton said she took responsibility for the attack during an 11-hour hearing before the House Republicans committee on the matter.

Military leaders have said they did not have sufficient intelligence on what was happening or the resources to respond quickly enough.

TURKEY

PM retracts compensation offer for downed Russia jet

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday went back on an earlier offer of compensation to Russia for shooting down one of Moscow’s military jets in November, media reported.

“Compensating Russia is not on the table, we have only expressed our regrets,” CNN-Turk cited Yildirim as saying, hours after he said Ankara was ready to offer compensation for the incident that shattered ties between the two countries.

Speaking on public TV network TRT late Monday, Yildirim had said: “We have said that if necessary we are ready to pay compensation.

“I think we have reached an understanding on this affair. We will put this incident behind us and continue on our path,” he added.

The confusion came a day after a major breakthrough in the diplomatic crisis between the two countries – which back opposing sides in the Syrian war – with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaching out a hand of conciliation.

US/SOMALIA

US, Somalia launch new chapter in relations

The United States has filled a diplomatic void in Somalia, swearing in its first ambassador to that country in 25 years.

Ambassador Stephen Schwartz took his oath Monday in Washington, following his Senate confirmation in May.

Schwartz, a senior Foreign Service officer who served as deputy chief of missions in Zambia, will replace James Bishop, who left more than two decades ago as the U.S. embassy came under threat.

The U.S. pulled its diplomatic presence and forces out of Somalia in 1993, after militiamen shot down a U.S. military helicopter, killing 18 soldiers.

The al-Shabab extremist group emerged out of the country’s civil chaos of that time. In recent years, the group has been ousted from Somalia’s major cities, although it has continued to launch attacks.

PAKISTAN

Transgender community cautiously welcomes marriage fatwa

A religious decree declaring transgender marriage to be legal has been cautiously welcomed in Pakistan, but activists say attitudes still need to change.

The decree, or fatwa, was passed on Sunday by a group of clerics.

It said that according to Islam transgender people with “visible signs” of being male or female may marry someone of the opposite sex.

But those with “visible signs of both genders” may not marry, it said.

The 50 clerics, part of the little-known Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat body based in Lahore, also said any act intended to “humiliate, insult or tease” transgender individuals should be considered a crime under Islam.

The fatwa is not legally binding in any way.

SIERRA LEONE

Man tried to set Air France plane on fire

A man tried to set fire to an Air France plane at Sierra Leone’s biggest airport after gaining access to the aircraft without a passport or boarding card, a court heard Tuesday.

Airport officials promised security would be stepped up after Ibrahim Kanu attempted to board the flight armed with petrol, matches and a cigarette lighter on June 24 at Lungi International Airport, close to the capital of Freetown.

The prosecution said Kanu had entered the restricted area reserved for staff and took a bus connecting to the plane, believed to have been an Airbus A330-200 headed for Paris.

EGYPT

Egypt deports British-Lebanese TV host

Egyptian authorities have deported a popular British-Lebanese television talkshow host, Liliane Daoud.

Ms Daoud, a former BBC journalist, was detained by plainclothes policemen at her home in Cairo on Monday and put on a plane to Beirut.

The move came hours after her contract was terminated by privately-owned OnTV.

Her show, Al-Soura Al-Kamila (The Full Picture), controversially aired views critical of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and his government.

Mr Sisi has cracked down on dissent since leading the military’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

Ms Daoud’s 10-year-old daughter, an Egyptian national, was at their home when her mother was led away by police.

LEBANON

Army detains 100 Syrians after Qaa bombings

Lebanon’s army has detained more than 100 Syrians for entering the country illegally following a series of suicide bombings in a border village.

The raids took place at informal refugee camps in the Baalbek region.

On Monday, at least eight bombers blew themselves up in the predominantly Christian village of Qaa, killing five people and injuring almost 30 others.

No group has said it was behind the attacks, but suspicion has fallen on jihadist militants from Islamic State.

IS has carried out previous suicide bombings that have killed scores of people in Lebanon.