Romania court gives Stalinist-era prison chief 20 years
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – A Romanian court sentenced a Stalinist-era political prison commander to 20 years in jail for murder on Friday, the first such ruling against a prison head since the collapse of the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.
Britain needs to stay in EU to support transatlantic ties, Obama says
LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said he wants Britain to stay in the European Union and help maintain the post-war transatlantic partnership, prompting angry responses from Eurosceptic lawmakers in London.
Death toll in Nile boat collision rises to 31: Egyptian health ministry
CAIRO (Reuters) – The death toll from a boat collision on Egypt’s Nile river Wednesday has risen to 31, a ministry of health spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.
Special Report: West Africa’s alarming growth industry – meth
DAKAR (Reuters) – When customs officers in the sleepy Senegalese town of Koumpentoum discovered a stash of pills hidden in a bus from Mali in late February, they initially thought it was counterfeit medicine.
Expulsion from Derna bastion may show limits for Islamic State in Libya
CAIRO/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Islamic State jihadists have exploited widespread chaos to gain a foothold in Libya, but their ejection from an eastern city suggests they may not achieve a Iraq-style takeover due to strong local rivals and the absenc…
China probes former associate of jailed security chief
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former senior associate of China’s jailed one-time security chief Zhou Yongkang is being investigated for suspected corruption, the government said on Friday, the latest official connected with Zhou to come under suspicion.
Second round of Afghan peace talks likely next week in China
KABUL (Reuters) – China is likely to host a second round of peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives next week, an Afghan official said on Friday, raising hopes for progress toward a political settlement to end years of blo…
Quake magnitude 5.2 hits off Greek island of Rhodes, no damage
(Reuters) – An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck 126 km west of the Greek island of Rhodes at a depth of 142 km at 0958 GMT on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Laws passed, Greece to open bailout talks as recession pushes goals further
ATHENS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Greece’s creditors prepared on Thursday for the start of bailout talks in Athens, after lawmakers adopted a second package of reform measures before dawn despite a left wing rebellion that may bring early elections.
China says U.S. trying to influence Philippines’ sea case
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday the United States was trying to influence a South China Sea arbitration case filed by the Philippines after a senior U.S. official said China would be obligated to abide by the tribunal’s deci…
