Taliban withdraws protection from Red Cross in Afghanistan
The Taliban said on Wednesday it was withdrawing its security guarantee for the International Red Cross in Afghanistan after it said the organization neglected prisoners holding a hunger strike in the Pul-e Charkhi prison in Kabul.
Turkey’s new finance chief faces credibility battle with markets
Facing Turkey’s gravest currency crisis since 2001 in his first month in the job, Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has the daunting task of reassuring global investors that the economy is not hostage to political interference.
Autostrade says met concessionary terms over collapsed motorway
Italy’s Autostrade per l’Italia, operator of the motorway where a bridge collapse killed 39 people, said it was confident it could prove it met contractual obligations for the concession.
Paraguay’s new president takes office, promises to cut poverty
Former senator Mario Abdo Benitez took office as Paraguay’s new president on Wednesday, pledging to cut poverty and fight corruption after winning national elections in April, but major changes to economic policy were not expected.
Ugandan MP beaten up after president’s convoy stoned: opposition
Ugandan legislator Francis Zaake, detained after the president’s convoy was stoned, has been “brutalised” by security personnel, an opposition figure said on Wednesday as images of the bruised lawmaker emerged on social media.
Turkish court releases local Amnesty head: Amnesty
A Turkish court has released Taner Kilic, the local honorary chairman of Amnesty International, from prison, the human rights group said on Wednesday in one of several cases that have caused expressions of concern over Ankara’s human rights record.
Putin says China’s Xi to visit Russia in Sept.: agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Russia in September, Russian news agencies RIA and Tass reported on Wednesday.
Anger at Italy bridge operator as hunt for survivors goes on
Italian rescuers searched for survivors among towering slabs of concrete wreckage in Genoa on Wednesday after a bridge collapse killed 39 people and sparked a furious government reaction against the viaduct’s operator.
Italy PM declares state of emergency after bridge collapse
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared on Wednesday a state of emergency covering the region around Genoa after a bridge collapse killed 39 people and severed the port city’s main land corridor with southern France.
Ex-Trump aide Manafort lied to banks, tax authorities: prosecutor
Paul Manafort lied to “bank after bank after bank” to get loans and falsified his tax returns, a prosecutor said on Wednesday as the former Trump campaign chairman’s trial on financial fraud charges moved toward a close.
