Wire-tap scandal threatens stability, democracy in Macedonia
SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonian magazine editor Mladen Cadikovski received his “file” in a binder — page after page of transcribed telephone calls with colleagues and friends, leaked to him by the country’s opposition leader who is publishing scores of …
Sisi’s crackdown on Islamists yet to win over Egyptian village
KERDASA, Egypt (Reuters) – Egyptian police often raid homes in this rundown village just outside Cairo, residents say — part of a broad crackdown on Islamists that has included the imprisonment of ousted president Mohamed Mursi.
Burundi ruling party to decide if president to seek third term
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD will hold a party congress this weekend to decide whether President Pierre Nkurunziza will seek a third five-year term, a move that the opposition and diplomats worry could spark fresh unrest.
Spain recalls Venezuelan ambassador over Maduro conspiracy comments
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain called its ambassador to Venezuela back to Madrid for consultation, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said on Wednesday, after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the Spanish government of conspiracy against …
Pakistani politicians decry ‘unfair’ change to China corridor
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Politicians in Pakistan complained on Wednesday that a plan for projects worth $46 billion to be built with Chinese funding has been unfairly changed to the disadvantage of two provinces.
How the ‘Godfather’ of Lagos could shape Nigeria’s government
LAGOS (Reuters) – “I am a talent hunter. I put talents in office, I help them,” says former Lagos state governor and opposition alliance leader Bola Tinubu, being quite open about his role as one of Nigeria’s most powerful political godfathers.
Hong Kong toes China line with reform package, vows no compromise
HONG KONG (Reuters) – The Hong Kong government published a long-awaited electoral blueprint for selecting the city’s next leader on Wednesday, a plan enshrining China’s desire for a tightly controlled poll that has angered activists and stoked talk of …
China defends vessels’ actions against Philippines in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday defended the actions of its vessels in the disputed South China Sea after the Philippines accused China’s coast guard of using water cannon on Philippine fishing boats and urged Manila to increase its “education” …
Japan’s Abe, China’s Xi hold bilateral meeting: Japanese media
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting in Indonesia on Wednesday, Jiji news agency reported.
Taliban announce plans to ramp up attacks in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday announced the start of its annual spring offensive, warning it would ramp up attacks on foreign embassies and government officials, as well as military targets, starting on Friday.
