Italy appeals court clears Berlusconi in sex trial
MILAN (Reuters) – An Italian appeals court unexpectedly overturned Silvio Berlusconi’s conviction on charges of abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor, in a significant legal victory for the former prime minister.
Spain summons UK ambassador over ‘inappropriate’ Gibraltar action
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain summoned the British ambassador on Friday to complain about Britain’s handling of an incident on Wednesday involving the Spanish Navy near the disputed territory of Gibraltar.
Syrian army, Islamic State clash near army airport: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian soldiers clashed with Islamic State militants outside a government-controlled army airport on Friday, a British-based monitoring group said, part of a major escalation of fighting between the al Qaeda offshoot and the military…
U.N. accuses Islamic State of executions, rape, child abuse in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The United Nations accused Islamic State fighters in Iraq of executing religious and other leaders as well as teachers and health workers, forcibly recruiting children and raping women among acts that amounted to war crimes.
Further sanctions would have ‘chilling effect’ on Russia: IIF
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Institute of International Finance warned on Friday that further sanctions on Russia would have a “broader chilling effect on Russia” and its companies who are already largely excluded from raising foreign capital.
AIDS community mourns as top experts feared killed in downed plane
MELBOURNE/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The world of AIDS research was in shock on Friday after dozens of leading HIV experts were feared killed when a Malaysian plane was shot down over Ukraine, fuelling concerns that research on curing the disease could suff…
Typhoon slams into southern China, one dead
BEIJING (Reuters) – A super typhoon slammed into China on Friday killing one person, as the government ordered an all-out effort to prevent loss of life from a storm that has already killed at least 64 people in the Philippines.
U.S., German views on spying differ but still firm allies: Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that Germany and the United States had differing views on data protection after new allegations of U.S. spying emerged this month but added that the partnership with America was nonethel…
China appoints special envoy for Afghanistan
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it had appointed a special envoy for Afghanistan, underscoring Beijing’s concerns that the withdrawal of NATO troops will leave a hotbed of militancy on its doorstep.
Bulgaria identifies airport bus bomber as Lebanese-French national
SOFIA (Reuters) – The man who blew up a bus in a Bulgarian Black Sea resort two years ago, killing five Israeli tourists as well as himself, has been identified as a dual Lebanese-French citizen, Bulgarian authorities said on Friday.
