Russia
Bill sparks controversy
Soon it will no longer be a crime in Russia to beat family members — as long as you don’t cause bodily harm. The lower house of the Russian parliament on Friday gave final approval to a bill decriminalizing some forms of domestic violence — a move that has sparked intense public debate. The State Duma voted 380-3 Friday to eliminate criminal liability for battery on family members that doesn’t cause bodily harm, making it punishable instead by a fine or a 15-day arrest. The law needs to be approved by the largely rubber-stamp upper chamber and signed by President Vladimir Putin, who has signaled his support.
Bolivia
Trapped miners rescued
Bolivian police on Friday rescued 19 wildcat miners who were trapped inside a mine by a rival group using dynamite. Police said about 100 miners used dynamite blasts to block the mine’s entrance and took control of another way out of the Asientos mine. The trapped miners were later rescued unharmed from the silver, lead and zinc mine that is located some 200 miles southeast of the Bolivian capital. Police said that miners on both sides had begun mediated talks with local authorities to resolve their conflict over the mine’s resources.
Canada
Tim Horton’s expands
North American free trade might be under threat, but Mexicans will soon import a big taste of Canada. Tim Hortons is expanding into Mexico, making it the company’s first Latin American market. Restaurant Brands International Inc. said Friday it has teamed up with investors in Mexico to form a joint venture and open branches of the coffee, bakery and sandwich chain. Tim Horton’s is a beloved homegrown chain in Canada.
Somalia
Dozens of deaths in attack
The al-Shabab extremist group attacked a Kenyan military base inside Somalia early Friday, and both the insurgents and Kenya’s military claimed dozens of deaths on the opposite side. Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu-Musab said the group’s fighters killed at least 51 Kenyan soldiers during the early morning attack in Kulbiyow town in Lower Jubba region. But Kenyan military spokesman P.M. Njuguna denied it, saying “scores” of the extremist fighters were killed instead when its soldiers repelled the assault.
Compiled from wire reports