Madagascar president names new PM after resignation confusion
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar’s president has appointed the interior minister as the new prime minister, an official in the president’s office said, two days after a confused announcement over the resignation of the previous premier.
Former Saddam aide seeks to reshape Iraq’s Sunni insurgency
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A rallying cry to Iraqi Sunnis from former President Saddam Hussein’s top surviving aide aims to bolster the old ruling Baath party’s appeal with Sunni Muslims fearing new reprisals by Shi’ite militias, experts said.
EU to propose visa-free travel for Ukraine despite Dutch vote: source
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission will propose this month granting visa-free travel to Ukrainians despite a Dutch referendum vote against an EU-Ukraine agreement partly motivated by hostility to migration, a senior EU source said.
Kerry plans no apology for wartime atomic bomb on Hiroshima visit
HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) – John Kerry will not offer an apology for the United States’ use of the atomic bomb against Japan when he becomes the first U.S. secretary of state to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on Monday, a senior U.S. offici…
Malta’s opposition demands resignation of PM over Panama Papers
VALLETTA (Reuters) – Several thousand people filled a big square in Malta’s capital on Sunday and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat after the leaked Panama Papers said two of his political allies had offshore accounts.
Austrian interior minister to leave government, party confirms
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner is leaving the government and swapping jobs with the deputy governor of her home province, Lower Austria, Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said on Sunday.
Iranian opposition figure asks Rouhani for court hearing
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Former Iranian presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, under house arrest since 2011, appealed to President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday for a court hearing where he could show two elections he lost were rigged.
Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured
PARAVOOR, Kerala (Reuters) – A fire and explosions during a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year killed 100 people and injured more than 380 at a temple in India’s southern Kerala state on Sunday.
Strong earthquake shakes buildings across South Asia
KABUL (Reuters) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck South Asia on Sunday, shaking buildings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, witnesses and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, and injuring several people in at least one Pakistani city….
Italy’s ruling party slips in poll after influence-peddling scandal
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s party has slipped in voters’ estimation in recent weeks since a minister quit in connection with an influence-peddling probe, a poll indicated on Sunday.
