Kazakhstan PM made security chief in reshuffle

ASTANA (Kazakhstan) • Kazakhstan's ageing President Nursultan Nazarbayev reassigned long-time ally Karim Massimov, moving him from prime minister to security chief, amid speculation over the authoritarian leader's eventual successor. Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev has assumed Mr Massimov's role until a new government is formed, a presidential decree said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Turkey suspends 11,500 teachers over party links

ANKARA • Turkey has suspended 11,500 teachers over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party, a Turkish official said yesterday, confirming an earlier report from broadcaster CNN Turk that cited the Education Ministry.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim visited the mainly Kurdish south-east region over the weekend and said in a speech there that 14,000 teachers had links to the group.

REUTERS

Major renovation mooted for Palace of Westminster

LONDON • Britain's Parliament should completely vacate its historic Palace of Westminster building for six years in order to allow a multibillion-pound renovation project to take place, a committee of lawmakers said yesterday. The neo-Gothic fronted building on the banks of the River Thames was rebuilt in the mid-1800s following a fire and its mechanical and electrical services have not undergone major renovation since.

REUTERS