KENYA: Opposition leader Raila Odinga called on Sunday for a temporary halt to anti-government protests in Kenya after President William Ruto urged his opponents to negotiate with him.

In a move to halt brewing disenchantment, President Ruto said he wants to hold talks with opponents to discuss how members of Kenya’s electoral commission are chosen. 

The commission’s responsibilities include conducting national elections and declaring the winners. 

OIL PRICES: Oil prices soared nearly 6 per cent today after Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers said they will cut production by 1.15 million barrels per day from May until the end of the year. 

United States benchmark crude oil rose by 5.6 per cent to $79.91 per barrel. 

EGYPT: The leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia have met amid months of tension between the two regional powers, officials said Monday.

In a joint statement by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia after the talks held on Sunday, the two leaders “affirmed mutual concern for promoting common cooperation in all fields.”

KOSOVO: The trial of Kosovo’s ex-president and three other former high-ranking members of the Kosovo Liberation Army charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity opened today.

The trial, at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in the Netherlands, part of Kosovo’s legal system, saw Mr Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi all plead not guilty to offences allegedly committed across Kosovo and northern Albania from 1998 to September 1999.