Turkey’s ruling AKP heads into congress in shadow of Erdogan
ANKARA (Reuters) – When Turkey’s ruling AK Party convenes its three-yearly congress in the capital Ankara on Saturday, the longest shadow will be cast by a politician who, officially at least, is no longer even a member: President Tayyip Erdogan.
At least 107 killed by falling crane at Grand Mosque in Mecca
RIYADH (Reuters) – At least 107 people were killed when a crane toppled over at Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Friday, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence authority said, less than two weeks before Islam’s annual haj pilgrimage.
U.N.’s Central Africa force hit with new misconduct allegations
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations on Friday said it has received a fresh allegation of sexual misconduct by a peacekeeper stationed in the Central African Republic.
Syrian toddler Aylan’s father drove capsized boat, other passengers say
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The father of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi was working with smugglers and driving the flimsy boat that capsized trying to reach Greece, other passengers on board said, in an account that disputes the version he gave last week….
Syrian toddler Aylan’s father drove capsized boat, other passengers say
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The father of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi was working with smugglers and driving the flimsy boat that capsized trying to reach Greece, other passengers on board said, in an account that disputes the version he gave last week….
Nations call for gender balance in choosing U.N. chief
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The 193 member states of the United Nations on Friday called for greater transparency and gender balance in the selection of the next U.N. secretary-general.
Hungary PM slams migrant ‘rebellion’, U.N. warns of millions more refugees
BUDAPEST/GENEVA (Reuters) – Hungary’s prime minister angrily accused illegal migrants on Friday of “rebelling” against the rule of law in his country as security forces across Europe struggled to control record flows of hungry, scared refugees.
Ousting of Myanmar party chief had ‘chilling effect’: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The recent unseating of the chief of Myanmar’s ruling party had a “chilling effect” on the political climate in the Southeast Asian country and was a reminder of the “bad old days” of military dictatorship, a senior U.S. diplomat…
Cuba to free 3,522 prisoners ahead of Pope Francis’ visit
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba on Friday pardoned 3,522 common prisoners in what it called a humanitarian gesture ahead of next week’s visit by Pope Francis, repeating similar actions it took ahead of two previous papal visits.
U.S.-Venezuela rapprochement rocked by Lopez sentence
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela accused the United States on Friday of jeopardizing a nascent rapprochement between the two ideological foes with “insolent” criticism of a 14-year jail sentence handed to opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.
