Turkey’s Erdogan, on Brussels visit, criticized over crackdown
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, making his first visit to Brussels in five years, faced sharp criticism from European Union leaders on Tuesday over a crackdown on the judiciary and police that has rattled investors.
Venezuela opposition leader wary of Maduro’s rapprochement
HIGUEROTE, Venezuela (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition leader has welcomed President Nicolas Maduro’s dialogue with once-vilified political foes but also suspects it may be a ploy to defuse anger over his failure to control crime and end economic scar…
Italy moves towards decriminalizing clandestine immigration
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Senate voted on Tuesday to scrap a law that makes entering the country without the proper paperwork a criminal offence and means migrants can be tried and fined up to 5,000 euros ($6,800) before being deported.
Bomb hits Pakistani bus full of Shi’ite pilgrims, 22 dead
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – A bomb ripped through a bus full of Shi’ite pilgrims in western Pakistan and killed at least 22 people on Tuesday, police said, extending a spate of sectarian attacks that have shaken the South Asian nation.
Libyan Islamist party’s ministers quit government
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s Islamist Justice and Construction Party on Tuesday pulled its five ministers, including the oil minister, out of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s government, complicating efforts to stabilize the OPEC country.
Delhi chief minister ends his anti-police protest after clashes
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told his supporters to end anti-police protests that erupted in violence on Tuesday, saying the force had promised to take action over his accusations of negligence by officers.
Nigeria president names replacements for sacked ministers
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has found 12 replacements for ministers he sacked last year, his office said on Tuesday, as he looks to shore up his support in an increasingly divided ruling party.
Iraq executes 26 people for ‘terrorism’ offences
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq has hanged 26 people convicted of “terrorism” offences, the Justice Ministry said on Tuesday, pursuing what a U.N. official criticized as a “conveyor-belt of executions”.
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe says his long life in ‘God’s hands’
ZVIMBA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) – Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe attributed his long life to God’s will but shied away from commenting on his health on Tuesday, a day after scotching rumors he was sick by appearing in public for the first time in several …
Bahrain deadlocked talks saved from brink, some hope for progress
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain’s crown prince has pulled reconciliation talks back from the brink by organizing a meeting with the Shi’ite opposition, and the appointment of a royal delegate, a first, and agreed topics for new talks, have raised some hope …
