Merkel challenger tries to calm storm over east German jibe
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck travelled to eastern Germany on Saturday to try to calm a storm over his recent comments suggesting opponent Angela Merkel lacked passion for Europe because she grew up in the former communist Ea…
Spanish, French police bust Chinese illegal immigration ring
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish and French police arrested 75 members of a gang suspected of smuggling Chinese citizens into Europe and the United States, Spain’s interior ministry said on Saturday.
Bahrain prime minister issues warning ahead of planned protests
RIYADH (Reuters) – Bahrain’s prime minister accused anti-government protesters of seeking to foment chaos and topple the government on Saturday, days before planned pro-democracy protests in the tiny Gulf kingdom where unrest has persisted since early …
Hundreds protest in London against Russian anti-gay law
LONDON (Reuters) – Hundreds of people protested in London on Saturday against a Russian anti-gay propaganda law that has attracted international condemnation as the world athletics championships kick off in Moscow.
Tunisia’s secularist opposition to unveil alternative government
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s secular opposition will announce an alternative “salvation government” next week, a challenge the Islamist-led ruling coalition that could make it harder to negotiate a political compromise.
Iraqi Kurd president says ready to defend Kurds in Syria
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Kurdistan is ready to defend Kurds living in Syria if it is found that they are being threatened by al Qaeda-linked fighters involved in the Syrian civil war, the president of the well-armed autonomous region said.
Northern Ireland clashes leave 56 police, 2 civilians injured
BELFAST (Reuters) – Fifty-six police officers and two civilians were injured in clashes in central Belfast in the latest flare-up in tensions between Northern Ireland’s Protestant and Catholic communities, authorities said on Saturday.
Nelson Mandela’s health improving by the day, his daughter says
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s health is improving daily and he is now able to sit up for minutes at a time, his youngest daughter told state broadcaster SABC.
Gunmen kidnap four Thais in Nigeria’s delta
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) – Gunmen kidnapped four Thai nationals as they travelled to a farm in Nigeria’s Rivers state, the local government said on Saturday.
Six migrants coming from Africa drown in sea off Sicily
ROME (Reuters) – Six migrants drowned off the Italian island of Sicily on Saturday after attempting a dangerous passage from Africa in a fishing boat, according to the Italian coastguard.
