Russia ex-defence chief’s son-in-law probed in luxury-car scheme
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian authorities said on Wednesday they are investigating former Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov’s son-in-law on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement, adding to pressure on a one-time Kremlin insider fired by Vladimir Putin in 2…
Hungary PM defends contested monument to Nazi victims
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Prime Minister Viktor Orban defended on Wednesday a planned monument to victims of Hungary’s 1944 occupation by the Nazis despite objections by Jewish leaders who say it distracts from the nation’s role in the Holocaust.
Turkish judicial purge brings corruption investigation to halt
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s purge of the judiciary and police has brought a corruption investigation shaking the government to a grinding halt and could undermine confidence in state institutions, senior legal figures and the opposition said on Wedne…
Insight: Europe worried as more and younger recruits join Syria battle
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) – Dashing to serve customers in the family restaurant in Cologne last month while tending skewers of meat on a charcoal grill, Haci Akarcorten only just got a hand to the ringing phone.
Fifteen remain underground after Russian coal mine blast: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Fifteen Russian miners were believed to be underground after a blast at a coal mine in Siberia on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Outgoing Madagascar president and ex-coup leader may seek PM job
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Outgoing president and former coup leader Andry Rajoelina said on Wednesday his coalition won Madagascar’s parliamentary election and he raised the possibility of becoming prime minister, which could fan tensions anew with his …
Prominent Chinese activist on trial, refuses to defend himself
BEIJING (Reuters) – Prominent Chinese rights advocate Xu Zhiyong went on trial on Wednesday in the country’s most high-profile dissident case in years, but his lawyer said he refused to offer any defense and called the court unjust.
Exclusive: Khamenei’s business empire gains from Iran sanctions relief
(Reuters) – One of the chief beneficiaries of this week’s easing of Iranian sanctions is the country’s ruler – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Afghanistan cracks down on commercials that favour U.S. troops
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government, increasingly at odds with Washington, is cracking down on advertisements that promote keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 and has already shut down a spot aired by the country’s most widely watched bro…
Israel says cracks Palestinian al Qaeda cell in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Wednesday it had arrested two Palestinians from East Jerusalem who were planning to carry out attacks for al Qaeda with the help of foreign suicide bombers posing as Russian tourists.
