EU veteran Juncker wins centre-right backing for top Brussels job
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, a fixture of Brussels politics for the past 25 years, won the backing of Europe’s center-right parties on Friday in the race to become European Commission president.
Turkish court orders release of jailed former army chief: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court ordered the release of former army chief Ilker Basbug from a life sentence on Friday, Turkish media said, adding to uncertainty over the fate of court cases trying coup plots against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey scrambles jets after Russian plane again flies near coast
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Turkish Air Force scrambled six F-16 fighter jets after a Russian surveillance plane flew parallel along its Black Sea coast, the military said on Friday, amid increased tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.
EBRD offers Ukraine 5 billion euro package, sticks with Russia
(This version of the story corrects amount EBRD currently has invested in Russia to 9.7 billion euros from 23.5 billion. The story was first filed on March 5)
Congo warlord’s conviction brings relief to international court
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Congolese warlord Germain Katanga was convicted on Friday of being an accessory to war crimes including murder and pillage – only the second conviction in the 12-year history of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Europe alarmed as pro-Russia leaders squeeze Crimea media
KIEV (Reuters) – When journalists in Crimea complained of a creeping climate of fear under the region’s new pro-Russia rulers, a top European official on media freedoms went to investigate.
Turkey sets Aug 10 for presidential election: source
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey will hold a presidential election on August 10 after incumbent Abdullah Gul’s seven-year term expires, a source in the prime minister’s office said on Friday.
Pussy Riot members attacked with green paint, rubbish
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Two members of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot were attacked by a group of men who poured rubbish and bright green paint over them and shouted obscenities at them at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Ted Turner rushed to clinic in Argentina with appendicitis: media
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Philanthropist and former media tycoon Ted Turner was rushed to hospital with appendicitis early on Friday in Argentina’s Patagonia region, where we he owns property, local media said.
Saudi sentences three suspected militants to death for 2003 bombing
RIYADH (Reuters) – A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced three men to death and jailed two others for up to 17 years for their part in a series of militant attacks including the deadly bombing of a foreign housing compound in 2003, state news agency SPA …
