Egyptian court bans Hamas’ armed wing, lists as terrorist organization
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court on Saturday banned the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas and listed it as a terrorist organization, a ruling in keeping with a systematic crackdown on Islamists by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Panama kicks out ex-Colombian spy chief to face charges at home
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panama on Saturday expelled a former Colombian intelligence chief, Maria del Pilar Hurtado, to face charges at home of illegally intercepting phone calls from opposition Colombian lawmakers.
Rouhani accuses Iranian hardliners of ‘cheering on’ other side in atom talks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, growing frustrated with hardline resistance to a nuclear deal with the West, accused opponents on Saturday of effectively “cheering on” the other side in Tehran’s grueling negotiations with world powe…
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…
