Autostrade voices sadness, sets up fund for Italy bridge victims
Top executives of Italian toll-road operator Autostrade per l’Italia, which managed a bridge that collapsed in the port city of Genoa this week, voiced profound sadness for the victims on Saturday and said it would set up a fund for their families.
Cossacks and flowers as Putin dances at Austrian minister’s wedding
Russian President Vladimir Putin danced arm-in-arm with Austria’s Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl at her wedding on Saturday, after receiving an invitation that opposition critics said undermined the West’s stance against Moscow.
Far right, anti-fascists protest in Finland a year after knife attack
Supporters of the far right and anti-fascists staged rival marches on Saturday in the city of Turku, the scene of Finland’s first militant Islamist attack a year ago.
Iran says its economy not at ‘dead end’ from U.S. sanctions
Iran said on Saturday it would resist the pressures of U.S. sanctions by relying on its natural and human resources, as Washington pushes allies to cut economic ties with Tehran.
Iranian spiritual leader sentenced for ‘insulting Islam’
An Iranian court has sentenced the founder of a spiritual movement to five years in jail, his lawyer told ILNA news agency on Saturday, after he was accused of corrupting Muslims.
Turkey’s Erdogan says to challenge ‘games’ on the economy
A day after two major ratings agencies downgraded Turkey closer to junk status amid a currency crisis, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he would challenge those playing “games” on the economy.
China’s top diplomat says supports Turkey’s efforts to safeguard stability
China supports the Turkish government’s efforts to safeguard security and economic stability and believes that it will overcome its “temporary difficulties”, China’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told Turkey’s foreign minister on Saturday.
Iran says its economy not in ‘dead-end’ from U.S. sanctions
Iran’s vice president said on Saturday the Islamic Republic would resist pressures from U.S. sanctions by relying on its oil and other natural resources.
Madagascar president, former presidents to run in Nov. 7 vote
Incumbent Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and his political rival, former president Marc Ravalomanana, will vie for the post at an election scheduled for November, part of a move aimed at defusing a political crisis on the Indian Ocean is…
Tributes laud Annan as man of peace and champion of rights
Leaders around the world paid tribute to former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan, who died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours of Saturday aged 80.
