France hints at aero, nuclear deals during Xi visit
PARIS (Reuters) – France expressed optimism on Friday over its ties with China in nuclear energy and aerospace in a sign of possible business deals when China’s Xi Jinping makes his first trip as president to Europe in late March.
Leading candidate for Bissau’s April vote faces legal objection
BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea-Bissau’s attorney general is seeking to block the candidate of the country’s largest party from contesting next month’s presidential election, accusing him of misappropriating public funds, according to an order seen by Reuter…
South Africa, Rwanda expel diplomats over attack on dissident Rwandan general
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa has expelled three Rwandan diplomats it says were linked to an attack by gunmen this week on the Johannesburg home of an exiled dissident Rwandan general, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Friday.
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.
