NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
_1 Tripoli bombing:
A suicide bomber and other militants attacked Libya’s election commission in the capital on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people in what appeared to be an attempt to disrupt a vote planned for later this year. The suicide bomber blew himself up inside the building in central Tripoli, while other militants set fire to it, said Health Ministry spokeswoman Wedad Abu Niran. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the raid, but Islamic extremists are opposed to democratic elections and have targeted them in other countries. Libya was plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Khadafy, and is now split between rival governments, each backed by an array of militias. _2 Lion attack: A lion has been killed after attacking the owner of a wildlife center in South Africa, a mauling recorded in a graphic video. A staff member at Marakele Predator Center in Limpopo province shot dead the male lion named Shamba after it mauled Michael Hodge, the proprietor of the facility. Hodge suffered neck and jaw injuries and is being treated at a Johannesburg hospital.
_3 Basque militants: The Basque militant group ETA on Wednesday announced its dissolution in a muchawaited declaration that marked the end of a bloody chapter in recent European history. In its goal to create an independent Basque country, ETA —which stands for “Basque Homeland and Freedom” in Basque— killed 853 people, most of them during the tumultuous years when Spain was transitioning from dictatorship to democracy. The news reflected what has been evident for years, that ETA is a spent force, its ranks decimated by arrests, its popularity minimal in the Basque region along Spain’s north coast. In their long struggle, the government has won. _4 Cancer test: Britain’s health minister apologized Wednesday for what he called a “serious failure” that resulted in hundreds of thousands of women in England not being invited to a screening test for breast cancer. Jeremy Hunt said Wednesday in Parliament that the mistake appeared to be the result of a “computer algorithm failure” dating to 2009. Hunt apologized “wholeheartedly and unreservedly” for the suffering caused and promised there would be an independent review of the national breast screening program. Breast cancer screening is offered to all women aged 50 to 70 in England every three years; they are sent invitation letters to make an appointment for the test. _5 Armenia protest: The opposition lawmaker who has led weeks of mass demonstrations in Armenia called Wednesday for the protests to take a break after a surprising move by the ruling party appeared to clear the way for him to become prime minister. On a fast-moving day of turmoil that began with crowds blocking roads, railways and the airport in the capital of Yerevan, the head of the ruling faction in parliament said it would vote May 8 for any prime minister candidate nominated by a third of the body’s 105 members. That effectively promised the job to protest leader Nikol Pashinian, just one day after parliament rejected him. Political turmoil began last month after parliament named former president Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister. Sargsyan had led the country as president for 10 years, but had stepped down because of term limits. Protesters said the move effectively allowed him to remain as leader indefinitely.