Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicates in favour of son
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has handed the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander.
The 75-year-old monarch signed the instrument of abdication in Amsterdam after 33 years on the throne.
Willem-Alexander has now become the country's first king since 1890.
Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute to the popular queen, who has maintained a recent Dutch tradition in handing over to a new generation.
Queen Beatrix announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation".
She formally relinquished the throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement which read: "I now withdraw from my office of Queen of the Netherlands, and the monarchy will now be transferred to my eldest son, Willem-Alexander."
About a million visitors were expected in Amsterdam, and street parties are taking place across the nation.
There were huge cheers from the crowds outside, watching on giant screens in Dam Square, as she and the prince and his wife Maxima - a 41-year-old Argentine-born investment banker - signed the abdication deed.
The visibly emotional queen, now Princess Beatrix, told the crowds: "I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander."
King Willem-Alexander thanked mother for "33 moving and interesting years", saying he and the Dutch public and people in Dutch overseas territories were "intensely grateful" to her.
ANC defends Nelson Mandela visit and video footage
It was the third time in the past four months that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate had stayed in hospital.
President Jacob Zuma and ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa were among senior ANC officials who called in on Mr Mandela at his home in Houghton and were given an update by his medical team.
"After receiving a briefing from the medical team, the national officials are satisfied that President Mandela is in good health and is receiving the very best medical care," the ANC said in a statement.
President Zuma said Mr Mandela "shook hands and even smiled".
The rare video footage from his home was broadcast by South African state broadcaster SABC.
The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says there has been an outcry on social media - especially Twitter, where the topic is trending - about the broadcast of the video.
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Many see it as exploitative and an invasion of the former president's privacy, our correspondent adds.
Central Damascus 'hit by bomb explosion'
At least 13 people to have been killed and many more injured by a powerful explosion in Syria's capital, Damascus, state media and activists say.
A bomb is believed to have been detonated in a square in the central district of Marjeh. Civilians and security personnel are among the dead.
Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area after the blast.
On Monday, Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived a car bomb attack, which had targeted his convoy in the capital.
The latest attack took place near a hotel, shopping centre and interior ministry building in Marjeh, a busy commercial district, the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut reports.
It is not yet clear what the target of the attack was, our correspondent says.
State television showed footage of widespread damage in the area, which was shrouded in dense smoke. Several vehicles could be seen burning and buildings with shattered windows.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the cause of the blast was a car bomb.
The UK-based activist group monitors human rights violations on both sides of the conflict via a network of contacts across Syria.
It estimates that March was the bloodiest month yet, with more than 6,000 people killed - a third of them civilians.
Government forces forces and rebels have been fighting in and around Damascus for months, but neither have gaining the upper hand.
Monday's blast targeting the prime minister was the latest bombing inside government-controlled areas of the capital.
The car bomb exploded as his convoy passed through the Mezzeh neighbourhood, reportedly killing a a number of people, including Mr Halqi's bodyguard.
So far no group has said they carried out the attack.
The UN says more than 70,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011.
Bangladesh defends rejection of foreign aid for collapse
Bangladesh has defended its decision to turn down foreign help following Wednesday's collapse of a building near Dhaka that killed at least 382 people.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir told the BBC authorities were confident they could deal with the crisis and emergency services did "a good job".
Hundreds are thought to be trapped but hope of finding more alive is fading.
Most victims are thought to be garment factory workers. The building's owner has been arrested.
Mohammed Sohel Rana is one of eight people detained, along with at least two garment factory owners.
They face allegations of negligence, illegal construction and persuading workers to enter the building in Savar - a day after visible cracks appeared.
Separately two companies whose suppliers were based in the building, Britain's Primark and Canada's Loblaw, said on Monday they would pay compensation and offer emergency food aid to victims who worked for their suppliers.
Mr Alamgir said that the Bangladeshi authorities "were confident we could manage it ourselves" in the rescue operation and had "enough people" involved in the rescue operation.
He pointed out that nearly 2,430 of at least 3,000 people who had been in the building survived.
The minister said this figure was "better than the average international effort in such cases".
Tokyo governor in apology over Olympics comments
The governor of Tokyo has apologised for comments he made about rival Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Naoki Inose, who is chairman of Tokyo's Olympic bid committee, made the comments in an interview in New York.
He appeared to criticise facilities in Istanbul and said that Islamic countries were "fighting with each other".
Mr Inose said his remarks had been "inappropriate".
"I am apologising as my remarks could be misinterpreted by people in the Islamic world, so I am clearly apologising for this," he told a news conference.
Mr Inose replaced outspoken predecessor Shintaro Ishihara, who resigned late last year to contest Japanese general elections in December 2012.
"For the athletes, where will be the best place to be? Well, compare the two countries where they have yet to build infrastructure, very sophisticated facilities," he was quoted as saying in an article published late last week by the New York Times.
He also said: "Islamic countries, the only thing they share in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other, and they have classes."
His remarks prompted fears Tokyo's bid could have broken International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules which prevent candidate cities commenting on their rivals.
Turkey's sports minister called the remarks "unfair and disheartening", Reuters news agency reported.
Mr Inose said that from now on he would campaign "strictly in accordance with the IOC rules".
The ballot is due to take place on 7 September, with Madrid in the running as well as Istanbul and Tokyo.
Canadians among three charged in Grenada with money laundering
A Canadian couple is remanded in custody and awaiting a second court appearance after being charged with what Grenada police claim is a “ring” that cheated elderly Canadian and American citizens out of thousands of dollars.
Magistrate Tamara Gill refused a request for bail from defence lawyer, Peter David, who is representing Quebec residents Denzel Roach, 21, and his 22-year-old female companion, Amanda Forbes.
One local newspaper, Caribupdate Weekly, has reported that Roach, Forbes and Grenadian Francis Richards are facing eight indictable charges of money laundering.
“The group of three is alleged to have collected various sums amounting to at least EC$30,000,” the paper said.
It reported police prosecutor, Vannie Curwen, as saying that more charges could be filed against the trio and that the total cash amount involved is way higher than the EC$30,000.
Curwen, an assistant superintend of police, said among those from whom statements have been received are “witnesses from outside the jurisdiction,” believed to include Canadian police.
During the first court appearance of the accused, Curwen told the magistrate that the “safest and most prudent” measure she could adopt is denying all three defendants bail.
He said there was “no assurance or guarantee” that the accused will “show up for trial”, once granted bail.
Richards is said to have collected the money at a wire transfer service operator after it would have arrived here from North America.
The 34-year-old, whose attorney is also David, was born in Trinidad but has been living in Grenada since age three.
Barbados firemen join the rest of the world in observing International Fire Fighter's Day
Members of the Barbados Fire Service are joining the international fire and rescue community in observance of International Fire Fighter's Day with a number of planned events.
The events began yesterday Sunday April 28th, with a church service at the Orange Hill Church of God, Orange Hill, St. James.
On Thursday, May 2, firemen will host a hazardous material simulation exercise in Queen’s Park, The City beginning at noon. They will then host a picnic and fun day at Brandon’s Beach, Brandon’s, St. Michael on Saturday, May 4.
International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is a time where the world’s community recognize and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible.
International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May. On this date firefighters who have died while serving their community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety are remembered.
The work and dedication of these men who everyday risk their lives in providing this valuable service can and should not go unnoticed.
Extra medics in Guantanamo Bay for hunger strike
The US has reinforced medical staff at Guantanamo Bay to try to handle a spreading hunger strike by prisoners at the detention facility.
About 40 nurses and other specialists arrived at the weekend, camp spokesman Lt Col Samuel House said.
He said that 100 of 166 detainees were now on hunger strike, with 21 of them being force-fed through a tube.
The inmates are protesting against their indefinite detention. Most are being held without charge.
The hunger strike started at the US facility in Cuba in February and has grown rapidly in recent weeks.
Although such actions are frequent at Guantanamo, the current protest is one of the longest and most widespread.
Guantanamo officials deny claims that the strike began after copies of the Koran were mishandled during searches of prisoners' cells.
Violence erupted at the prison on 13 April as the authorities moved inmates out of communal cellblocks where they had covered surveillance cameras and windows.
Some prisoners used "improvised weapons" and were met with "less-than-lethal rounds", camp officials said, but no serious injuries were reported.
Nearly 100 of the detainees have reportedly been cleared for release but remain at the facility because of restrictions imposed by Congress and also concerns of possible mistreatment if they are sent back to their home countries.
The military detention centre opened in 2002 to hold suspects captured in counter-terrorism operations after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US.
Mexico probe of bistro 'closed by official's daughter'
Mexican authorities are investigating allegations that the daughter of a government official used her influence to close a restaurant.
Andrea Benitez is said to have prompted a raid after not having been offered a table on Friday night.
Both the federal attorney-general for consumer protection, Humberto Benitez Trevino, and his daughter have since apologised for the episode.
It caused outrage in Mexico and became a trending topic on social media.
Mr Benitez called his daughter's behaviour inappropriate and said he "immediately suspended the operation", as soon as he heard of it.
"She exaggerated the situation and authorities of the Profeco (the initials in Spanish of Mr Benitez' office), who depend on me, overreacted because she is my daughter," he said in an official statement.
On Monday, legislators demanded sanctions against Mr Benitez.
"The Congress' presidential commission should take up the matter and apply the Federal Bill for Public Servants, in which direct sanctions are suggested," said Lizbeth Eugenia Rosas Montero, from the leftist Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).
On Twitter, Mexicans used the hashtag #LadyProfeco to poke fun at Ms Benitez and posted humorous remarks and photos about the episode.
"I always wondered why certain restaurants in #MexicoCity were "clausurado" [suspended] and others weren't. #LadyProfeco makes it abundantly clear," tweeted one user.
Many also demanded charges of traffic of influence against Ms Benitez.
The restaurant Maximo Bistro, in Mexico City, opened normally on Sunday, but Profeco officials suspended two licences.
Correspondents say Mexico has become more sensitive to abuses of power by the wealthy and well-connected.
Last year, the head of a powerful union was heavily criticised after posting photos of a Europe trip in which she appeared in five-star hotels, private jets and yachts.
The daughter of President Enrique Pena Nieto was also lambasted in 2011, after she retweeted an aggressive comment directed at critics of her father.
'Problems' as Maracana stadium reopens in Rio
Rio's world-famous Maracana stadium has reopened after nearly three years of renovations to prepare it for the World Cup finals in 2014.
Workers who helped with the renovation and their families were treated to an exhibition match between teams of stars past and present.
But leading newspapers reported problems with the new facility.
The reopening follows controversy over delays, costs and the future privatisation of the site.
The renovation was completed four months behind schedule.
Days before the test event, seats were still being installed and pavements laid near the venue.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes were among the 30,000-strong crowd watching the friendly between teams captained by Ronaldo and Bebeto.
But the Jornal do Brasil said Saturday's visitors "needed patience to deal with the many problems" at the venue, arising from the rush to complete it.
It highlighted uneven flooring with small gaps and holes, flooding in the VIP area and a dysfunctional lift, and said some staff had tried to prevent journalists taking pictures of the affected areas.
Workers were still finishing building a stadium wall, and ticket offices, turnstiles and gates were not working, said another paper, the Folha de Sao Paulo.