Australia state election bodes ill for Abbott government
PERTH (Reuters) – Australia’s opposition Labor party pulled off a huge electoral turnaround in a key state on Saturday, positioning it to oust the ruling Liberal-National party in a voter backlash that threatens the future of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
U.S. reports 27 more strikes against Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies carried out 27 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria since early Friday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operation reported on Saturday.
Tens of thousand rally for Spain’s Podemos before elections
MADRID (Reuters) – Tens of thousands marched in Madrid on Saturday in the biggest show of support yet for anti-austerity party Podemos, whose surging popularity and policies have drawn comparisons with Greece’s new Syriza rulers.
Macedonian opposition leader charged with plot to seize power
SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonia’s chief opposition leader was charged by police on Saturday with conspiring with a foreign intelligence service to topple the government.
Bahrain revokes nationality of 72 on security grounds
MANAMA (Reuters) – The Bahraini government has revoked the nationality of 72 citizens for damaging national security, the state news agency BNA reported on Saturday.
Lavish freebies from Saudi king to buoy economy, markets
DUBAI (Reuters) – A lavish payout to public employees ordered by Saudi Arabia’s new King Salman will help to sustain the kingdom’s consumer boom and reassure financial markets that the government is not slashing expenditure in the face of low oil price…
Two cases of child pornography possession in Vatican in 2014
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican, which is still struggling with the effects of a worldwide pedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church, discovered two cases of possession of child pornography within its own walls last year, its chief prosecutor said…
Bangladesh opposition says leader’s Internet, electricity cut amid protests
DHAKA (Reuters) – Opposition activists accused Bangladesh’s government of cutting their leader’s electricity, Internet and cable connections on Saturday after days of violent anti-government protests.
France, Morocco resume judicial cooperation after row
PARIS (Reuters) – France and Morocco will resume their judicial and legal cooperation, the French justice ministry said on Saturday, ending a row sparked by a French probe into alleged torture.
AirAsia captain left seat before jet lost control: sources
SINGAPORE/JAKARTA/PARIS (Reuters) – The captain of the AirAsia jet that crashed into the sea in December was out of his seat conducting an unusual procedure when his co-pilot apparently lost control, and by the time he returned it was too late to save …
