LAGOS, Nigeria

Unions, government make last-ditch effort to halt strike

Nigeria’s government is meeting with labor unions in a last bid to halt a paralyzing national strike that now threatens oil production in Africa’s most populous nation.

A major union has said it will stop production in Nigeria if the government doesn’t restore fuel subsidies that keep gasoline prices low in the nation of more than 160 million people.

If production is halted, it could cause oil futures to rise, potentially costing U.S. drivers an additional $36 million a day at the pumps.

The meeting began Saturday night. Residents of Nigeria rushed to gas stations and markets to buy supplies if the national strike that started Monday continues into this week.

TUNIS, Tunisia

Leaders mark anniversary of country’s revolution

Tunisia is marking the one-year anniversary of the revolution that ended the dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali — and sparked uprisings around the Arab world — with prudent optimism.

Worries over high unemployment cast a shadow over Tunisians’ pride at transforming their country. Now a human rights activist is president, and a moderate Islamist jailed for years by the old regime is prime minister at the head of a diverse coalition.

The death of a fruit vendor who set himself on fire prompted protests that spread around Tunisia.

Leading Arab dignitaries are joining Tunisia’s leaders to commemorate Saturday’s anniversary.

MEXICO CITY

Four held in apparent child-trafficking efforts

Investigators say four women are being held in the western city of Guadalajara in connection with an apparent child-trafficking ring that aimed to supply babies to childless Irish couples.

The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office said a 21-year-old woman was arrested after a relative reported that she was “renting out” one of her children.

The woman said she’d been paid to give the child to a group of three women who needed baby pictures for legitimate advertising purposes.

Investigators found that the other three women were taking the child and several others to a hotel where Irish couples believed they were going to adopt them.

Officials are investigating whether the Irish couples and Mexican mothers were tricked.

LUMBINI, Nepal

Country where Buddha was born reaches out to travelers

Nepal’s president announced a campaign Saturday to lure hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims this year to visit the area of the country where Buddha was born.

President Rambaran Yadav said Nepal is eager to welcome both devotees of Buddha and peace believers to Lumbini, in southwestern Nepal, where Buddha is believed to have been born 2,555 years ago.

“Let us spread peace not just in the country and among our people, but also in the world,” Yadav said.

— From news service reports

 

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