Venezuela ex-planning minister said to slam Maduro as weak leader
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s former planning minister, who helped the late president Hugo Chavez forge the country’s state-driven economic model, has excoriated current president Nicholas Maduro as a weak leader who is straying from socialism, accor…
UKIP snags lone French defector to form EU political group
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Britain’s UK Independence Party succeeded on Wednesday in forming a European Parliament grouping with other euro-sceptic parties, giving it access to more money, staff and speaking time.
Cuba puts Canadian exec on trial; some investors put off
HAVANA (Reuters) – A Canadian executive held in Cuba for nearly three years has gone on trial on bribery charges in a case closely watched by potential investors who are wary of how Cuba treats foreign executives.
Former Turkish military chief Evren sentenced to life for staging 1980 coup
ANKARA (Reuters) – Former army chief Kenan Evren, 96, who came to symbolise the military’s dominance over Turkish political life over decades, was sentenced to life in jail on Wednesday for leading a 1980 coup that resulted in widespread torture, arres…
Kenya detains two over attacks stoking political tensions
MOMBASA Kenya (Reuters) – Police said they detained two men for questioning on Wednesday linked to attacks this week along Kenya’s coast that killed about 65 people and fuelled a political row over security.
Venezuelan and Cuban activists lobby U.N. on human rights
GENEVA (Reuters) – Venezuelan and Cuban activists lobbied the United Nations on Wednesday to investigate the deaths of dozens of student protesters in Caracas and the jailing of Cuban dissidents.
Ukraine’s Poroshenko sets out ceasefire plan after call with Putin
KIEV (Reuters) – After a late-night telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday set out proposals for a peace plan for eastern Ukraine involving a unilateral ceasefire by government forces.
Afghanistan’s Abdullah calls on election officials to halt count
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday demanded election organisers stop counting ballots because of widespread fraud, potentially derailing what is seen as a make-or-break vote before most foreign troops leave.
Exclusive: Iran digs in heels on nuclear centrifuges at Vienna talks – envoys
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran is refusing to significantly cut the number of centrifuges it intends to keep to produce nuclear fuel, making it hard to imagine a compromise at this week’s talks with six powers, Western and Iranian officials said on Wednesday….
Cameron looking increasingly isolated in EU battle
BRUSSELS/ROME (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron looked increasingly isolated on Wednesday in his drive to prevent Jean-Claude Juncker becoming head of the European Commission, with potential allies softening their opposition.
