U.N. watchdog urges Venezuela to investigate torture allegations
CARACAS (Reuters) – The United Nations’ torture watchdog on Friday expressed “alarm” at reports of torture and abuse by Venezuelan authorities during months of opposition protests this year and urged the country to fully investigate the incidents.
Spain’s poll-topping Podemos tones down radical plans in manifesto
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s newest political party Podemos, riding high in opinion polls just 10 months after its launch, released an economic manifesto on Friday that rowed back on earlier pledges to cut the retirement age and default on the national d…
Croatia PM cancels Belgrade trip over freeing of war crimes suspect
ZAGREB (Reuters) – Croatia’s prime minister said on Friday he had scrapped a planned trip to Serbia next month due to Belgrade’s failure to distance itself from comments made by a Serbian ultra-nationalist recently freed from a U.N. war crimes tribunal…
Fifteen Islamic State targets hit by U.S., allies since Wednesday: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military and its allies hit Islamic State forces with 15 air strikes in Iraq and Syria during a three-day period, the U.S. Central Command said on Friday.
Would-be Moldova election kingmaker flees country ahead of Sunday polls
CHISINAU (Reuters) – A would-be kingmaker in elections in Moldova, millionaire dark horse candidate Renato Usatii, said on Friday he had fled to Russia fearing arrest after his party was excluded from the vote in a move likely to embolden pro-European …
China probes ‘five networks’ of disgraced ex-security chief: People’s Daily
BEIJING (Reuters) – An investigation into China’s former domestic security chief is probing five different networks, the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party said on Friday, naming senior figures it said may have benefited from his alleged corruptio…
Namibia’s ruling party seen winning Africa’s first electronic vote
WINDHOEK (Reuters) – Namibians voted on Friday in Africa’s first electronic election that is expected see the SWAPO party to extend its 24-year rule as people in the mineral-rich country seek stability in the face of a global commodities downturn.
Offer Israeli Arabs money to move to Palestinian state: Lieberman
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman proposed on Friday that Arab citizens of Israel be offered financial incentives to leave the country and relocate to a future Palestinian state.
German support for sanctions on Russia rise, poll finds
BERLIN (Reuters) – The number of Germans supporting European Union economic sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis has risen in the last month and a large majority supports Chancellor Angela Merkel’s toughening stance, a poll on Friday found….
Abu Dhabi crown prince in Qatar to seal reconciliation before summit
DUBAI (Reuters) – Abu Dhabi’s crown prince paid a brief visit to Qatar on Friday, official media said, to cement reconciliation between the two Gulf Arab states before a regional summit they are to hold in Doha next month.
