Dutch lawmakers demand explanation from Turkey over race spat
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Opposition lawmakers on Friday demanded that the Dutch government seek clarification from Turkey after Ankara appeared to accuse the Netherlands of racism and Islamophobia against its ethnic Turkish population.
Cameron tells EU: let us curb migrant welfare, or risk UK leaving
ROCESTER/LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron could campaign for Britain to leave the European Union if it stops him restricting EU migrants’ access to his country’s welfare system, he hinted on Friday, but said he was confident it wouldn’t …
Putin to push trade in Turkey despite disagreement on Syria
ANKARA/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey on Monday will have trade and energy issues at its heart, but is not expected to bridge deep differences over Syria and Crimea.
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.
