5 gain temporary seats on UN Security Council

UNITED NATIONS • Five countries, representing five regions, were elected unopposed on Thursday to two-year seats on the United Nations Security Council: Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay.

None will have any of the power or influence of the council's five permanent members. But they could use their temporary positions to try to advance their own foreign policy priorities - or lash out at their rivals.

Ukraine is expected to use its seat on the council to push for accountability for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, for which it blames Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member.

Ex-Moldovan PM held over $1.38b theft

CHISINAU ( Moldova) • Former Moldovan prime minister Vlad Filat has been detained in Parliament over the theft of US$1 billion (S$1.38 billion) from the banking system, as thousands camp out in the capital in protest.

Television footage on Thursday showed the former premier being handcuffed by masked officials from Moldova's anti-corruption bureau. Protesters had blocked the building exits for most of the day to prevent him from leaving. Last November, three of Moldova's largest banks were reduced to insolvency over the US$1 billion - equivalent to around 12 per cent of Moldova's gross domestic product.

REUTERS

34 killed in Nigerian suicide bomb attacks

MAIDUGURI (Nigeria) • At least 34 people were killed in a wave of suicide bomb attacks in north-east Nigeria, as the military yesterday warned that Boko Haram militants are threatening the country's sovereignty.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE