Turkish president rejects Facebook, YouTube ban over wiretaps
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s president on Friday ruled out any ban on Facebook and YouTube after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the sites could be shut to stop his foes anonymously posting audio recordings purportedly exposing corruption in his in…
Saudi Arabia designates Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, in a move that could increase pressure on Qatar whose backing for the group has sparked a row with fellow Gulf monarchies.
In Ukraine, nationalists gain influence – and scrutiny
KIEV/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When protest leaders in Ukraine helped oust a president widely seen as corrupt, they became heroes of the barricades. But as they take places in the country’s new government, some are facing uncomfortable questions about the…
Turkish court orders release of jailed former army chief
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court ordered the release of former general Ilker Basbug from a life sentence on Friday, adding to uncertainty over the fate of court cases trying coup plots against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Zimbabwe opposition suspends official who asked leader to quit
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Friday suspended a senior official who had asked party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to quit, a move which could widen cracks in a party recovering from a devastating election …
South Africa, Rwanda expel diplomats over attack on dissident Rwandan general
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa has expelled three Rwandan diplomats it says were linked to a raid by gunmen this week on the Johannesburg home of a dissident exiled Rwandan general, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Friday.
France hints at aero, nuclear deals during Xi visit
PARIS (Reuters) – France expressed optimism on Friday over its ties with China in nuclear energy and aerospace in a sign of possible business deals when China’s Xi Jinping makes his first trip as president to Europe in late March.
Leading candidate for Bissau’s April vote faces legal objection
BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea-Bissau’s attorney general is seeking to block the candidate of the country’s largest party from contesting next month’s presidential election, accusing him of misappropriating public funds, according to an order seen by Reuter…
South Africa, Rwanda expel diplomats over attack on dissident Rwandan general
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa has expelled three Rwandan diplomats it says were linked to an attack by gunmen this week on the Johannesburg home of an exiled dissident Rwandan general, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Friday.
EU veteran Juncker wins centre-right backing for top Brussels job
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, a fixture of Brussels politics for the past 25 years, won the backing of Europe’s center-right parties on Friday in the race to become European Commission president.
