UAE summons Qatari ambassador over Muslim cleric’s criticism
DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates summoned the Qatari ambassador over what it called insults against the UAE made by an influential Sunni Muslim cleric in a broadcast from Doha, state news agency WAM reported on Sunday.
Brahimi’s Palestinian deputy Kidwa leaves Syria talks team
GENEVA (Reuters) – Nasser al-Kidwa, deputy head of the international team running the Syria peace talks, has been removed from his job, diplomatic sources said on Monday, after repeated calls from the Syrian government for his dismissal.
Libya PM says he ordered troops towards occupied ports weeks ago
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Monday he had given orders to move troops toward eastern ports occupied by protesters, but said deployment of the military was now in the hands of the army command.
Saudi Arabia to jail citizens who fight abroad
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia will jail for 3-20 years any citizen who fights in conflicts abroad, according to a royal decree released on Monday, in an apparent move to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria and then posing a security risk once t…
Crumbling Athens housing complex comes to life during economic crisis
ATHENS (Reuters) – It has been shelled, threatened with demolition and became such an eyesore that it was covered by a massive sheet during the 2004 Athens Olympics, but a historic 1930s housing complex built for Greeks fleeing Turkey is a hive of acti…
Turkish government fights graft scandal with probe of ‘parallel state’
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey is launching a criminal investigation into an alleged “parallel state” backed by a U.S.-based cleric and accused by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating a corruption scandal to unseat him, senior Turkish officials …
Indian government given week to decide on prosecuting Italian marines
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s top court has given the government a week to decide if it will invoke a maritime security law that carries the death sentence against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.
Colombia president leads candidates but protest vote high: poll
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos would win more support than any other candidate in the first round vote for president, but the share of the electorate who will not pick any candidate on the ballot remains the biggest block of …
Egypt’s quick-fix minimum wage hike fails to calm workers
AL-SAFF, Egypt (Reuters) – When Egypt announced plans for a minimum wage late last year, the government hoped to lift living standards and calm street turmoil that has helped topple two presidents in three years.
South African activist scraps pact to challenge Zuma for presidency
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Prominent South African activist Mamphela Ramphele has backtracked on a week-old pledge to run for president for the main opposition Democratic Alliance, frustrating the party’s push to win more black votes in an election just mon…
