U.K. REVIEWS OXFAM TIES

LONDON» The British government is reviewing its relationship with Oxfam amid a deepening sexual misconduct scandal involving some of the charity’s employees working in Haiti after its devastating 2010 earthquake.

The U.K.’S Department for International Development sharply criticized the charity for its lack of transparency as questions swirled about how much detail Oxfam provided when it first reported the allegations.

The Times of London reported Friday that misconduct allegations against seven former Oxfam staff in Haiti included the use of prostitutes — some of whom may have been under 18 — and downloading pornography.

Mcdonald takes reins of Sinn Fein. LONDON» Mary Lou Mcdonald, 48, took over as leader of the Sinn Fein party Saturday, ending Gerry Adams’ three decades at the helm with a sweeping speech that touched on everything from abortion to Brexit and promised a united Ireland “in our time.”

Mcdonald is the first woman to lead the party, and the first Sinn Fein leader with no direct connection to Ireland’s period of violence known as the Troubles. She takes over for Adams, a divisive politician who was the face of the Irish republican movement as it shifted from violence to peace.

Turkish warships stop oil rig.

NICOSIA, CYPRUS

» Turkish warships on maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea have blocked a rig belonging to the Italian energy firm ENI from reaching an area off Cyprus to start searching for gas, officials said Saturday.

Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told state broadcaster RIK that the rig has halted its journey heading south of Cyprus and was waiting for directions from ENI. He says Cypriot authorities are in contact with the company and the Italian government. The rig was on its way to drill an exploratory well at Block 3, an area southeast of the island nation.

Turkey opposes the drilling, saying it flouts the rights of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots to ethnically-split Cyprus’ natural resources.

Singer of drug ballads shot dead.

MEXICO Javier Reyes, a singer of ballads lionizing drug gang bosses, was shot dead in the Mexican capital, authorities and local media reported.

Mexico City prosecutors said the 33-yearold man was found with multiple bullet wounds in an SUV on Friday in the southern borough of Tlahuac. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Boko Haram frees 13 people.

YOLA, Nigeria’s government says Boko Haram extremists have released three university lecturers and 10 women who had been kidnapped in separate raids last year.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said the 13 are now in the custody of the Department of State Security Services in Abuja.