Merkel plays down hope of quick deal on next Commission president
STRALSUND, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried on Saturday to douse hopes of a quick agreement on the next European Commission president after the May 22-25 European parliament elections, warning this could take several weeks.
Pakistan Taliban chief makes last-ditch bid to assert authority
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – The head of the Pakistani Taliban is making a last-ditch bid to stamp his authority on the increasingly divided insurgency by ordering a top commander sacked, Taliban sources said Saturday.
Lawyer for Pakistan doctor jailed over bin Laden hunt quits amid threats
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The lawyer defending a Pakistani doctor jailed after helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden is quitting the case because of death threats and alleged U.S. interference in the trial, the lawyer said Saturday.
U.N. readies aid in South Sudan after ceasefire deal
JUBA (Reuters) – The United Nations in South Sudan was readying aid on Saturday for towns ravaged by conflict but was waiting to see if a new ceasefire deal holds between the president and rebel leader before sending it.
Protesters in east China clash with police over waste incinerator plan
BEIJING (Reuters) – Protesters in eastern China clashed with police at a rally against plans to build a huge waste incinerator that residents fear will be harmful to their health and add to pollution.
Southeast Asia group calls on China to speed up maritime security talks
NAYPYITAW (Reuters) – Southeast Asian foreign ministers voiced “serious concerns” on Saturday over naval clashes between Vietnam and China as the regional group’s top official urged Beijing to step up efforts to advance talks on maritime security.
Thai government supporters rally to ‘defend democracy’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Supporters of Thailand’s beleaguered government gathered on Saturday on the outskirts of Bangkok, saying they were determined to safeguard democracy as rival anti-government protesters pressed their campaign in the city.
Somali president wants aid airlift for towns retaken from rebels
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia needs help airlifting basic supplies to towns recently retaken by African Union-led forces because Islamist insurgents who were driven out from those areas are blocking aid convoys, the president told Reuters in an intervi…
Pro-Hamas newspaper back on sale in West Bank in new unity step
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – A pro-Islamist newspaper was sold in the West Bank on Saturday for the first time in seven years, another sign of a Palestinian unity pact that prompted Israel to suspend peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Ab…
Michelle Obama ‘outraged’ over Nigeria kidnapped girls
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. first lady Michelle Obama took the rare step of delivering her husband President Barack Obama’s weekly radio address on Saturday to express outrage over the kidnapping of some 200 girls in Nigeria last month.
