RIO DE JANEIRO, June 12, 2013 (AFP) - Brazil is fine-tuning its security apparatus to contain endemic violence during next year's football World Cup and ensure the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people who will visit the country during the planet's most-watched sporting event.

LUSAKA. — The Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA), a railway line jointly owned by the Zambian and Tanzanian governments, has announced plans to increase fares for express and ordinary trains by an

ANTANANARIVO. — Madagascar’s Church Council (FFKM) yesterday said they will hold a summit conference with four successive presidents, including the president of transition, Andry Rajoelina and

JIUQUAN. — China successfully launched its fifth manned spacecraft on Tuesday afternoon, announced Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China’s manned space programme.

MOSCOW. —  Russia would consider an asylum request from US contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked information on the US government’s monitoring of Internet use and phone records, the spokesman for

MOSCOW. — Russian Parliament yesterday passed two controversial Bills that impose jail terms for people promoting homosexual “propaganda” to minors and those who offend religious believers

LUSAKA. — The Zambian government is investigating some diplomats who recently attempted to illegally export ivory, the Zambia Daily Mail reported yesterday.

KINSHASA. — The special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for children and armed conflicts, Leila Zerrougui, and the head of the UN mission MONUSCO, have expressed concerns over information that at

MOMBASA. — Kenya’s terror suspect, Fuad Abubakar Manswab, charged alongside British national Jermaine Grant and two others in Mombasa, has joined Al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia, said Kenyan

JOHANNESBURG. —  Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, arrived yesterday at the Pretoria hospital where the ailing elder statesman is receiving treatment.

THE HAGUE. — ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has opposed fresh attempts by President Kenyatta’s lawyers to postpone the trial to January.