South Korea to contribute $867 million for U.S. military forces in 2014
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Sunday it had agreed to pay 920 billion won ($866.86 million) in 2014 towards the cost of the U.S. military presence in the country, a rise of 5.8 percent from a year ago.
Two more Greek far-right party MPs jailed before trial
ATHENS (Reuters) – Two lawmakers from Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party were remanded to custody on Saturday pending trial on charges of belonging to a criminal group, on what prosecutors say is evidence linking the party to a series of attacks, inc…
Punches fly as Turkish MPs debate judicial reform
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish parliamentarians threw punches and water bottles during a debate on Saturday about government control over the appointment of judges and prosecutors, as a feud over the ruling party’s handling of a corruption scandal intensif…
Central African Republic’s capital tense as ex-leader heads into exile
BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic’s president flew into exile in Benin on Saturday and a new interim team started the process of identifying leaders who might restore order to a nation gripped by months of inter-religious violence.
Basque protesters rally in support of ETA prisoners
BILBAO, Spain (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Bilbao in Spain’s northern Basque Country on Saturday in support of jailed members of the Basque separatist group ETA, defying a court ban from Madrid.
In war or withdrawal, Sharon marched to his own drum
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A maverick in war and politics, Israel’s Ariel Sharon reshaped the Middle East in a career marked by adventurism and disgrace, dramatic reversals and stunning rebounds.
Obama honors Sharon’s dedication to Israel, Biden to go to funeral
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Saturday lauded the late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s dedication to the Jewish state and reaffirmed an “unshakable commitment” to Israel’s security as Vice President Joe Biden prepared to attend…
Former Israeli PM and military commander Ariel Sharon dead at 85
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, the trailblazing warrior-statesman who stunned Arab foes with his dramatic turnarounds, died on Saturday aged 85, after eight years in a coma caused by a stroke.
Shi’ite-Sunni ceasefire takes hold in north Yemen
SANAA (Reuters) – Fighting in north Yemen between Shi’ite Muslim Houthis and Sunni Salafis stopped on Saturday as a ceasefire deal took hold, according to a presidential committee trying to help end the conflict.
Iran nuclear bill would have consequences, nuclear chief says
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran will have no choice but to step up its uranium enrichment if a bill now moving through parliament is approved, even though it has no current need for such highly-enriched uranium, its nuclear chief said on Saturday.
