Large majority of Germans see SPD backing Merkel coalition: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Roughly three out of four Germans expect grassroots members of the Social Democrats (SPD) to approve a new coalition government with Angela Merkel’s conservatives in a party vote over the coming weeks, according to a poll published o…
Media tycoon Saban says dreams of Hillary Clinton as U.S. president
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli-American media tycoon Haim Saban, a major donor to the U.S. Democratic party, said on Friday he would back former secretary of state Hillary Clinton with his “full might” should she run for president in 2016.
Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan sign landmark energy contracts
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan signed a package of landmark contracts earlier this week that will see the semi-autonomous region’s oil and gas exported via pipelines through Turkey, sources close to the deal told Reuters on Friday.
‘Security’ swimming pool lands South Africa’s Zuma in hot water
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s top official anti-graft watchdog is recommending President Jacob Zuma repay some of a $21 million publicly funded “security upgrade” to his private home, which included a swimming pool and marquee area, a newspap…
Huge Bangladesh fire destroys key garments factory
DHAKA (Reuters) – A huge fire on Friday destroyed a Bangladesh garment factory supplying key Western brands, authorities said, in a blaze touched off by workers angered over rumors of a colleague’s death in police firing.
India accelerates Iranian port project after U.S.-Iran thaw
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – India is sending a team to Iran to speed up work on a port that will provide access to resource-rich Central Asia and Afghanistan, officials said, moving quickly to take advantage of a thaw in Iran’s relations with the West.
Analysis: Déjà vu with a difference as Thai PM faces down protesters
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The French have the best phrase for Thailand’s turbulent politics: déjà vu.
Chinese paper says Islamists seek to ban TV, singing
BEIJING (Reuters) – Islamists in China’s far western region of Xinjiang are seeking to ban television, singing and other forms of entertainment, a newspaper said on Friday, adding that “religious extremism” was a disaster facing the area.
NATO-led force in Afghanistan to probe airstrike said to have killed child
KABUL (Reuters) – The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said it would investigate Thursday’s airstrike in Helmand that local officials say killed a child and has further aggravated a stand-off between the Afghan president and the U.S. government.
Nicaraguan committee passes change to remove presidential term limits
MANAGUA (Reuters) – A Nicaraguan parliamentary committee on Thursday approved a constitutional change to remove presidential term limits, which could allow incumbent Daniel Ortega stay in power for years and has raised concerns about democracy in the c…
