Turkish ruling party wants Erdogan presidential bid: officials
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s ruling party would overwhelmingly back Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s candidacy in the nation’s first direct presidential election, senior officials said on Thursday, a move his opponents fear would feed his autocratic inst…
Burundi orders U.N. security adviser out after violence warning
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – Burundi ordered a security adviser at the United Nations mission in the country to leave on Thursday, escalating a row that started with a warning by the U.N. last week of a possible outbreak of political violence.
Russia’s South Stream pipeline splits EU energy policy
LONDON (Reuters) – Russia’s South Stream gas pipeline is splitting European Union energy policy as EU leaders look to block the project while some member states see it as a solution to supply disruptions via Ukraine.
Iraqi Kurds entrench political faultline with Syria border ditch
ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi Kurds are digging a 17-km (10-mile) trench on their border with Syria, reinforcing a political faultline between the two rival parties that dominate on either side of the frontier.
Pistorius trial adjourns until May, state mauls forensic expert
PRETORIA (Reuters) – The murder trial of Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was adjourned on Thursday until May 5 after the state wrapped up three days of punishing cross-examination of a forensic expert brought by the defense.
Saudi activist sentenced to 15 years in jail for protests: lawyer
DUBAI (Reuters) – A judge on Thursday sentenced a Saudi blogger and activist to 15 years in jail for taking part in protests and defaming the kingdom by communicating with foreigners and through publishing articles on the Internet, his lawyer said.
Gunmen kidnap Tunisian diplomat in Libya
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – A Tunisian diplomat was kidnapped on Thursday in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Libya’s foreign ministry said, two days after gunmen seized Jordan’s ambassador.
Burundi orders U.N. security adviser out after violence warning
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – Burundi ordered a security adviser at the United Nations mission in the country to leave on Thursday, escalating a row that started with a warning by the U.N. last week of a possible outbreak of political violence.
Dutch rightist Wilders blames EU for Ukraine crisis; hints at UKIP alliance
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders blamed the crisis in Ukraine on the European Union on Thursday, accusing it of inciting violence by dangling the “carrot” of EU integration.
Exclusive: Syria submits more ‘detailed’ list of chemical weapons
BEIRUT/THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Syria has submitted a “more specific” list of its chemical weapons to the global regulator overseeing the destruction of its stockpile after discrepancies were reported by inspectors on the ground, officials said.
