Iran denies harassing U.S. warships in Gulf, warns of clashes
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran denied on Saturday U.S. accusations that its fast-attack boats were “harassing” warships at the mouth of the Gulf, and said Washington would be responsible for any clashes in the key oil shipping route.
China, others lift ban on meat imports in boost for Brazil
BRASILIA/BEIJING (Reuters) – China lifted a ban on imports of meat from Brazil on Saturday after Brazilian authorities clarified details of a police investigation into alleged bribery of health inspectors, in a victory for President Michel Temer’s effo…
Germany’s Schaeuble wins party endorsement for September election
SINDELFINGEN, Germany (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, a key figure in Berlin’s handling of the euro zone crisis and Greece’s bailout programs, won a ringing endorsement from his conservative party on Saturday to stand in Septemb…
Mexican leftist casts shadow over Mexican banking convention
ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) – Mexican financiers and politicians blasted populism at a top banking conference this week in a thinly veiled attack on the frontrunner for the 2018 presidential election – but some worry they overdid it and may have played …
Erdogan says Turkey may hold referendum on EU accession bid
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey may hold a second referendum on whether to continue with European Union accession talks following a planned vote on April 16 that could give him sweeping new powers.
U.N. envoy urges Russia, Iran, Turkey to help uphold Syria ceasefire
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura has written to the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran to urge them to “undertake urgent efforts to uphold the ceasefire regime” in Syria and to smooth the way for peace talks, a statement…
Bangladesh bomb blasts kill six, scores injured
DHAKA (Reuters) – At least six people, including two police officials, were killed and scores wounded in two bomb blasts in Bangladesh on Saturday near a militant hideout that was raided by commandos, police said.
U.S. military investigating alleged civilian casualties in Mosul strike
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military acknowledged on Saturday that U.S. aircraft struck at the request of Iraqi security forces a location in West Mosul where dozens of civilian casualties allegedly occurred.
Indian vice president defends liberal values, right to dissent
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari said on Saturday universities must uphold liberal values and respect dissent, a month after violent protests erupted at a university in the capital Delhi over a speech by a student accused of sedition.
Hundreds detained as Belarus struggles to quell protests
MINSK (Reuters) – Belarus authorities detained hundreds of people on Saturday during an attempt to hold a street protest in the capital Minsk, amid rising public anger over falling living standards and an unpopular tax on the unemployed.
