NETHERLANDS: Talks to create a new Dutch government around Islamophobic far-right politician Geert Wilders’s Party for Freedom, suffered a setback today when a lingering immigration issue divided those involved in brokering a coalition.

Senators from the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy decided on Tuesday to back legislation that could force municipalities to house asylum-seekers.

The lower house of parliament has already approved the plan, which aims for greater fairness in spreading thousands of asylum-seekers around the country, but Mr Wilders strongly opposes it.

ZAMBIA: A major cholera outbreak has killed more than 400 people and infected over 10,000, leading authorities to order schools across the country to remain shut after the end-of-year holidays.

The Zambian government said today that it was embarking on a mass vaccination programme and providing more than four pints of clean water a day to affected communities.

RWANDA: The military has reported the killing of a Congolese soldier who crossed the border and allegedly fired at Rwandan army patrols, in the latest incident in cross-border tensions between the neighbours.

The Rwanda Defence Force said in a statement on Tuesday that it had also arrested two Congolese soldiers who were with the one killed. It said that they had crossed the border at Isangano village in Rubavu district, near the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

NIGERIA: Three people died and 77 others were injured after a massive blast rocked more than 20 buildings in the city of Ibadan, authorities said today.

Preliminary investigations showed that Tuesday night’s blast had been caused by explosives stored for use in illegal mining operations.