WORLD HIGHLIGHTS

►Lebanon BEIRUT

Lebanon headed to the polls yesterday for its first election since multiple crises dragged it to the brink of failed statehood, with the ruling elite expected to comfortably weather public anger.

►Central African Republic

BANGUI Rebels killed ten civilians during an attack hundreds of kilometres northeast of the Central African Republic capital Bangui, the spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in the country said.

►Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania's president on Saturday approved a nearly 25-per cent increase in the minimum wage, marking a departure from the policies of her autocratic predecessor amid protests about the high cost of living.

►Tunisia

TUNIS The Tunisian navy said on Saturday it rescued 81 migrants, one of them a woman, who had set out for Europe from Libya on a barely seaworthy vessel.

►Somalia MOGADISHU

Hundreds of Somali parliamentarians met yesterday in a heavily-fortified airport hangar to choose a new president in a vote needed to ensure the impoverished and conflict-riven nation keeps receiving foreign financial aid.

►Chile

SANTIAGO The home of Chilean Defense Minister Maya Fernandez was robbed by attackers who beat her son and threatened her husband, authorities said on Saturday.

►Switzerland

GENEVA Switzerland voted yesterday on whether streaming services should cough up money to boost Swiss film-making – and whether everyone should automatically become an organ donor unless they say otherwise.

►Peru LIMA

Peru has filed suit against Spanish energy company Repsol over the massive January oil spill that ravaged its coast, seeking US$4.5 billion in damages.