FORMER MSF STAFF ACCUSE AID WORKERS OF USING PROSTITUTES IN AFRICA: REPORT

LONDON: Former aid workers of the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have accused staff of using prostitutes and swapping medicine for sex while working in Africa. Eight women who worked for MSF were quoted by BBC as saying that the organisation had a “toxic” culture, including “blatant and widespread” use of local sex workers by staff and one man bragging it was easy to barter medication for sex in Liberia. MSF said on Thursday that it had been unable to confirm the allegations because of a lack of detailed information. “We are sorry for any instances where people have been subjected to harassment, abuse or otherwise mistreated and/or felt that it was not adequately dealt with,” MSF said in a statement. AGENCIES

Algeria goes offline to stop students cheating

ALGIERS: Algeria went offline on Wednesday for the start of high school diploma exams, the first in a series of internet blackouts to stop students cheating. Mobile and fixed internet lines were cut across the country for a total of two hours, to coincide with the start of two separate school tests, journalists in Algiers said.

Libya strongman’s forces say key oil ports recaptured

BENGHAZI: A force led by Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar on Thursday announced that it had recaptured two key oil export terminals, a week after they were attacked by a rival militia. “Our armed forces have full control of the Ras Lanuf region,” the force’s spokesman Ahmed al-mesmari said, later adding that it had also seized the Al-sidra terminal.

Killing dogs for meat illegal, rules South Korean court

SEOUL: A South Korean court has outlawed the killing of dogs for meat, in a landmark ruling that animal rights activists said Thursday could pave the way to making eating canines illegal. Consumption of the meat has declined as South Koreans increasingly embrace the idea of dogs as man’s best friend rather than livestock.

May seek coalition if fail to get majority: Erdogan

ISTANBUL: Turkish President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his ruling AK Party could seek to form a coalition if it fails to secure a majority in Sunday’s elections. Polls indicate elections may be closer than anticipated when Erdogan called the snap elections in April, suggesting he may be pushed to a second-round run-off for the presidency. REUTERS