News in Brief

Greece plans new anti-racism law
Reuters, Athens

The Greek government said yesterday it would soon present a bill targeting racist hate speech, part of a crackdown on the far-right Golden Dawn party after the killing of an anti-fascist rapper.
“(The bill) will be submitted to parliament in a matter of days. It has symbolic and moral value," Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos told reporters, adding that it would align Greek legislation with European standards.

Militia clashes kill 10 in east DR Congo
Afp, Rd Congo

Fighting between two rival militia forces has killed at least 10 people in the Masisi territory of the east of Democratic Republic of Congo, official and civic sources said yesterday.
"There were clashes between the APCLS (Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo) and elements of the Sheka on Friday and Saturday at Kalembe," John Banyene, chairman of Masisi's civil society association, told AFP.

Ex-finance minister Ghani to run for Afghan president
Afp, Kabul

Former finance minister Ashraf Ghani yesterday launched his bid to become the next president of Afghanistan, kickstarting the 2014 election race as the first big name to declare his candidacy.
Ghani, who is also a former World Bank academic, confirmed he would run in the April poll to succeed Hamid Karzai as the Nato-led military coalition withdraws and officials seek a peace deal with Taliban militants.
“(I) plan to contest in the upcoming presidential elections," Ghani said on his Twitter account, in a message that was verified by a senior official working in his office.

Popes to be declared saints in April
BBC Online

Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints on 27 April 2014, Pope Francis has announced.
The Pope said in July that he would canonise his two predecessors, after approving a second miracle attributed to John Paul.
Polish John Paul, the first non-Italian pope for more than 400 years, led the Catholic Church from 1978-2005.
Pope John was pontiff from 1958-1963, calling the Second Vatican Council that transformed the Church.