Madagascar’s ex-president opposes new PM, creating uncertainty
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar’s former president has filed a legal challenge to his successor’s choice of prime minister, creating new political uncertainty in the Indian Ocean island as it struggles to rebuild its economy.
Poll shows Greek leftists’ lead over conservatives widening slightly
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek radical leftist Syriza party’s poll lead over the ruling conservatives widened to 4.6 percentage points from 4.1 points, a survey showed on Friday, nine days before an election that is watched with keen interest across Europe.
Saudis to review blogger’s flogging case in Supreme Court: BBC
LONDON (Reuters) – The case of a Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes, which has been widely criticized by Western governments, has been referred to the Supreme Court by the King’s office, the BBC reported on Friday.
Charlie attack raises stakes for Saudi Arabia in flogging case
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s ruling family is coming under pressure from Western countries over its flogging of writer Raif Badawi for “insulting Islam”, but it appears more worried about the risk of offending domestic conservatives if it lets him…
Frenchman detained in Bulgaria denies Islamist militant links: lawyer
HASKOVO, Bulgaria (Reuters) – A French citizen arrested in Bulgaria for alleged links to the gunmen who attacked the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, denies being part of an Islamist group and is ready to be extradited to prove his innocence, his law…
Dozens held across Europe in Islamist suspect sweeps
PARIS/VERVIERS, Belgium (Reuters) – Belgian, French and German police interrogated dozens of Islamist suspects on Friday as much of Europe remained on heightened security alert after last week’s killings in Paris and raids in Belgium in which two gunme…
Spain prosecutor calls for 42-year jail term for former ruling party treasurer
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor has called for a 42-and-a-half years prison sentence for the ruling party’s former treasurer, Luis Barcenas, for crimes ranging from fraud to money laundering, a court source said on Friday.
Serbian rights groups urge probe into mine tender in media freedom row
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbian civic groups called for an inquiry into a media report of irregularities in a government tender to pump flood water from a major mine, after the prime minister called the journalists “liars” paid by the European Union to di…
Kremlin critic Navalny questioned by investigators, office raided
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was questioned on Friday by Russian investigators and his offices were raided by police in what colleagues called an attack on his anti-corruption campaigning.
Saudi’s top clerical body condemns Prophet Mohammad cartoons
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s top clerical council, the only body in the kingdom authorized to issue Islamic legal opinions or fatwas, on Friday denounced the publication of “disrespectful drawings” of the Prophet Mohammad.
