Georgian president challenges PM to affirm pro-Western course
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili has weighed into a row that has split the government by urging the prime minister of the ex-Soviet state to improve governance, re-commit to European integration and challenge Russia’s thinki…
Zimbabwe ruling party suspends officials seen as Mugabe critics
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party suspended several senior officials aligned to Vice-President Joice Mujuru on Friday, weakening her position in an fierce battle to succeed ageing President Robert Mugabe.
EU hopeful Serbia hosts military drill with Russia
NIKINCI Serbia (Reuters) – Russian soldiers parachuted into open fields in western Serbia on Friday as part of an unprecedented joint military drill that has stirred controversy in the European Union candidate-country given the West-Russia standoff ove…
China anti-graft watchdog finds gold, cash in official’s home
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s anti-graft watchdog has discovered 37 kg (82 lbs) of gold, documents for 68 houses and 120 million yuan ($19.6 million) in cash in the home of a Communist Party official who is being investigated for corruption, state media …
Portugal main opposition extends lead on ruling parties in poll
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s main opposition Socialists extended their lead over the center-right ruling coalition for the second straight month after choosing a popular new leader before next year’s election, an opinion poll showed on Friday.
EU allies alarmed at Hungary’s Kremlin drift
BUDAPEST/BERLIN (Reuters) – Several European governments believe Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is flouting EU values by drifting into the Kremlin’s orbit but are unsure how to respond.
Iraqi government forces close to Baiji refinery: officers
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi government forces got within a kilometer (half a mile) of the country’s biggest refinery on Friday, the closest they have come to breaking an Islamic State siege of the facility during months of fighting, two army officers and…
Troops clash with Muslim militants in Philippines, 15 dead
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine troops clashed on Friday with Islamist militants on a remote southern island and 14 people were killed in the first major encounter since the army launched an offensive almost a month ago, military officials said.
Sweden says has proof of foreign submarine intrusion in October
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden has proof that a small foreign submarine was operating illegally in its waters last month, its top military officer said on Friday after a mysterious episode that triggered the country’s biggest military mobilization since …
Police search India drug factory linked to sterilization deaths
RAIPUR/BILASPUR India (Reuters) – When Indian police came knocking at Sumit and Rajesh Mahawar’s pharmaceutical plant two days ago, they say the father and son locked the doors from the inside. A few hours later, after the police left, witnesses report…
