Iran official says crew of plane carrying Americans gave false information
DUBAI (Reuters) – An Iranian official said on Saturday that an airliner carrying Americans from Afghanistan to Dubai had been forced to land in Iran because the crew had supplied “false information”.
Egypt president says no magic bullet for power problems after major blackout
CAIRO (Reuters) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi prepared Egyptians on Saturday for more blackouts after lights went out across much of the country this week, saying it would take time and cost the cash-strapped state $12 billion to upgrade the decrepi…
Syrian warplanes hit Islamic State-run bakery, training camp: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian warplanes bombed a bakery run by Islamic State in the city of Raqqa, killing 25 people, in air raids on Saturday that also hit a major training camp used by the insurgent group for a second day running, a group monitoring the …
Egypt charges ex-president Mursi with leaking state secrets to Qatar
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt charged ousted president Mohamed Mursi and nine others on Saturday with endangering national security by leaking state secrets and sensitive documents to Qatar, furthering a state crackdown on his outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Bahrain postpones trial of prominent human rights activist
MANAMA (Reuters) – A Bahraini judge on Saturday postponed the start of the trial of human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja by 10 days and ordered that she remain in custody, her lawyer said.
Tanzania bus collision kills at least 36, dozens injured
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – At least 36 people were killed and dozens injured when two passenger buses collided along a busy road in north-western Tanzania, police said on Saturday.
Cars torched in poor Stockholm suburb as election nears: police
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – At least 20 cars were set on fire overnight in a poor immigrant suburb of Stockholm, police said on Saturday, days before an election in which joblessness and Sweden’s open door asylum policy are major issues.
Japan’s Abe steals a march on China with South Asia tour
DHAKA/COLOMBO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe flew to Bangladesh on Saturday for a two-stop tour of South Asia as the globe-trotting leader asserts Tokyo’s interest in a region where it has ceded influence to China.
Merkel vows to fight anti-Semitism in Germany
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she would do everything she could to fight anti-Semitism in Germany, amid reports of attacks and a spike in anti-Israel sentiment since the Gaza conflict.
Turkey ratifies new cabinet, no policy shift expected
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s parliament gave its new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu a vote of confidence on Saturday.
