Madagascar’s PM sworn in despite pending legal challenge
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Jean Ravelonarivo, an air force commander and businessman, was sworn in as Madagascar’s new prime minister on Saturday promising to get to work swiftly although a legal challenge by a former president still hangs over his appoi…
Austria mulls quitting Saudi-backed religious center in Vienna
VIENNA (Reuters) – Chancellor Werner Faymann has called for Austria to withdraw from a Saudi-sponsored religious dialogue center in Vienna that has become embroiled in controversy over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
Journalist’s jailing casts spotlight on media freedom in Macedonia
SKOPJE (Reuters) – A Macedonian journalist has been jailed after being convicted of revealing the identity of a protected witness in a murder trial, a ruling condemned by rights groups concerned over deteriorating media freedoms in the ex-Yugoslav repu…
Channel Tunnel closed after truck fire
PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) – The Channel Tunnel operator evacuated a shuttle train and closed the subsea crossing on Saturday due to a truck fire, British police said, adding that there were no reported injuries.
Venezuela moves opposition ex-mayor from jail to home arrest
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan judicial authorities have allowed a former opposition mayor jailed during a wave of anti-government protests in 2014 to swap his cell for house arrest because of poor health.
Islamic State targeted in 29 airstrikes in Syria, Iraq: joint task force
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies conducted 29 airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq in a 24-hour period, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement on Saturday.
Somali PM given two more weeks to form cabinet, extending drift
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s new prime minister was on Saturday given two more weeks to present a new cabinet to parliament after lawmakers rejected his first list, extending a period of drift in government that donors say is hurting recovery effort…
China’s Xi congratulates new chairman of Taiwan’s ruling party
TAIPEI/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s President Xi Jinping on Saturday welcomed the election of Eric Chu as chairman of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party, the Xinhua news agency reported, which quoted Xi saying he hoped Taiwan-China relations would contin…
ICC opens examination of Israeli-Palestinian conflict
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court has launched an inquiry into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, opening a path to possible charges against Israelis or Palestinians.
Chadian peacekeeper killed in attack on U.N. base in northern Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Suspected Islamist militants attacked a U.N. base in northern Mali with car bombs and rockets on Saturday, killing one Chadian member of the U.N. peacekeeping mission and wounding another, the mission said.
