Saudi dynasty moves to forestall succession crisis
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince is a first step towards addressing its biggest dynastic challenge for 50 years and forestalling a possible succession crisis in the world’s top oil exporter.
Over 100,000 protest in Taiwan over China trade deal
TAIPEI (Reuters) – More than 100,000 protesters took to the streets of Taiwan’s capital on Sunday as a two-week-long campaign against a trade pact with China gathered steam, piling further pressure on the island’s leader.
Germany mulls military support for NATO’s eastern European states
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany is considering offering military support to some eastern European members of the NATO defense alliance in response to Russia’s seizure of Crimea, news magazine Der Spiegel reported at the weekend.
Merchant ship shot at in Strait of Hormuz Sunday- NATO
DUBAI (Reuters) – Unknown assailants in a speedboat shot at a merchant vessel as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman on Sunday, the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) said.
Ukraine’s ‘Chocolate King’ could edge new-look Yulia for president
KIEV (Reuters) – Gone is the trademark peasant-style hair braid, though the familiar voice and the assured, rapid-fire delivery tell you Yulia Tymoshenko is back as a political force in Ukraine.
Lavrov plays down impact of Western sanctions on Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Western sanctions on Russia have led to some disruption but have not been too painful, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday ahead of talks later in the day with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry.
Egyptian soldier killed, 3 police wounded in attack on bus -army
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian soldier was killed on Sunday when militants attacked the bus he was driving in the town of Al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula, the military said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Armed militias hold Libya hostage
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – When a militia holding Libya’s eastern ports loaded a North Korean-flagged tanker with oil earlier this month, the Libyan parliament sacked its own prime minister and turned to U.S. commandos to bring its cargo back.
Philippine ship dodges China blockade to reach South China Sea outpost
SECOND THOMAS SHOAL, South China Sea (Reuters) – The Philippine government vessel made a dash for shallow waters around the disputed reef in the South China Sea, evading two Chinese coastguard ships trying to block its path to deliver food, water and f…
Two Spanish journalists freed after over six months in Syria
MADRID (Reuters) – Two Spanish journalists held hostage in Syria by an al Qaeda-linked militant group for 194 days have been freed and handed over to the Turkish military in good health, one of the men told his employer El Mundo newspaper.
