President-elect Erdogan heralds ‘new Turkey’ in last party speech
ANKARA (Reuters) – In a farewell speech to supporters of his AK Party, Turkish president-elect Tayyip Erdogan said its mission to reshape the nation would go on after he left party politics and took office as head of state.
A broken man living on dreams pulls Japan into Syria hostage drama
TOKYO (Reuters) – When Haruna Yukawa was captured in Syria earlier this month, a video apparently released by his captors showed them pressing the Japanese man to answer questions friends say he had struggled with for years: Who are you? Why are you he…
Germany steps up fight against far right after neo-Nazi murders
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany has drafted legislation to help prevent a repeat of a racist murder spree by a neo-Nazi cell in 2011, giving a bigger role to federal prosecutors and allowing courts to focus more on xenophobic motives.
Afghan election audit disrupted as candidates declare walk-out
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election veered further off course on Wednesday after both candidates withdrew their observers from a U.N.-supervised audit of votes that was meant to resolve the crisis.
China moves to limit Hong Kong election could stir protests
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China moved on Wednesday to limit 2017 elections for Hong Kong’s leader to a handful of candidates loyal to Beijing, local media reported, a move likely to escalate plans by pro-democracy activists to blockade the city’s Central b…
Former UK PM Brown sets aside feud to try to keep Scotland in UK
DUNDEE (Reuters) – Former British prime minister Gordon Brown will set aside a long-running feud on Wednesday to make his first public appearance with Alistair Darling, the leader of the campaign to keep Scotland part of the United Kingdom.
Ukraine’s PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday that Kiev knew of plans by Russia to halt gas flows this winter to Europe, in comments which are likely to escalate the standoff between Moscow and the West.
Thai premier tells foreign investors: ‘We are not dictators’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha told European investors on Wednesday that he was not a dictator and that his government was seeking to create a Thailand that would be more attractive for their long-term investments.
Pakistan’s prime minister resolved to ride out protests crisis
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told parliament on Wednesday he would not be cowed by thousands of demonstrators camped outside the assembly demanding his resignation.
Afghan candidate Ghani pulls observers from election audit
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani pulled his observers from a U.N.-supervised audit of votes on Wednesday after rival candidate Abdullah Abdullah dropped out of the process, a senior member of Ghani’s team said.
