EU loses out on Ukraine, but may have dodged a bullet
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – In post-Soviet Europe, Russia looks to have won a decisive victory by convincing Ukraine to reject a trade deal with the European Union and deepen ties with Moscow instead.
Six Islamist factions unite in largest Syria rebel merger
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The six largest Islamist rebel factions in Syria declared a new Islamic Front on Friday, forming the largest alliance of opposition fighters yet in the 2-1/2-year conflict.
China president to promote allies in sweeping reshuffle: sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to promote a string of allies in coming months as part of a sweeping reshuffle of the Communist Party, the government and the military, three separate sources with ties to the leadership said.
Doubt over election after Madagascar military handed control of regions
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar’s government has replaced a third of the country’s regional governors with senior military officers, raising concern that a run-off vote in the first presidential election since a coup in 2009 will be rigged.
Samaras tells Merkel ‘no hole’ in Greek aid program
BERLIN (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Friday he saw no financing hole in the current aid program for Greece and any decision on further debt relief could only be taken once final data on the budget surplus is available next ye…
Nigerian president makes ‘speedy recovery’ from illness
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has made a “speedy recovery” from illness in London and was well enough to attend an investor conference there, the presidency said on Friday.
Sinopec oil pipeline blast kills 35 in eastern China
BEIJING (Reuters) – An explosion in a Sinopec Corp oil pipeline killed 35 people in Qingdao in eastern China on Friday, causing a blaze that took several hours to bring under control and halting operations at a major oil port, media and ship brokers sa…
Torture rife in Uzbekistan, U.N. watchdog says
GENEVA (Reuters) – Torture is rife in prisons and police stations in Uzbekistan, where activists are rounded up and routinely mistreated, the U.N. torture watchdog said on Friday.
Pakistani doctor who helped U.S. find bin Laden charged with murder
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan on Friday charged with murder the doctor who helped the United States track down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in the latest development in a case that has strained ties between the two countries.
Czech police search Lufthansa flight after bomb threat
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech police were searching a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt that landed at Prague Airport after a mentally ill Czech man anonymously called in a bomb threat, a police spokeswoman said on Friday.
