Florence Mayor Renzi prepares to shake up Italian centre-left
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center-left Democratic Party (PD) is expected to elect as its leader the charismatic mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, an outsider who promises both a chance of renewal and a threat to Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s already fragi…
French army says killed unidentified fighters in Central Africa Republic
PARIS (Reuters) – French forces killed unidentified fighters near the airport in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui in clashes early on Thursday before the U.N. green light for the mission, an army spokesman said.
Ukraine’s Yanukovich postpones foreign trip over domestic turmoil: statement
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has postponed a scheduled visit to Malta next week, the presidential website said in a statement on Friday, citing his need “to focus on domestic political issues.”
Six months to go, momentum builds ahead of EU parliament vote
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Next May’s elections to the European Parliament promise to be among the most closely watched since the 1970s, with many in Europe expected to show their frustration with the economic crisis by voting for anti-EU or protest parties….
Aide to N. Korean leader’s ousted uncle seeks asylum in South: media
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea could be facing its most serious defection in 15 years as South Korean media said on Friday that a man who managed funds for the ousted uncle of leader Kim Jong Un had fled the isolated country and sought asylum in South K…
Italian court sentences abducted Egyptian to 6 years -sources
MILAN (Reuters) – An Italian court sentenced the radical Egyptian Muslim cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr in absentia on Friday to six years in prison for international terrorism, legal sources said.
Syrian rebel group demands hostage swap for abducted nuns: paper
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian rebel group calling itself “Free Qalamoun” has claimed the kidnapping of 12 nuns and said it wants to trade them for a thousand female detainees held by the government, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Friday.
Italy court sentences Abu Omar to six years in prison: sources
MILAN (Reuters) – An Italian court sentenced Egyptian Muslim cleric Abu Omar to six years in prison on charges of international terrorism, legal sources said on Friday.
Flights delayed as air pollution hits record in Shanghai
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled on Friday in China’s commercial hub of Shanghai as record levels of air pollution shrouded the city in smog, prompting authorities to issue the highest level of health warning.
Russia rebukes German minister for visit to Kiev protest camp
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday called participation by foreign officials in the political events unfolding in Ukraine “interference”, rebuking the German foreign minister for a visit to an opposition protest camp.
