Russia’s Putin says sentences in fraud case involving top critic Navalny were ‘strange’
LAKE SELIGER, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was surprised by the five-year jail term a court handed down to Alexei Navalny, his top critic, when another man convicted in the same embezzlement case received only a…
Iran’s Rouhani misquoted in remarks on Israel: state TV
DUBAI (Reuters) – Two days before his inauguration as Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani said on Friday that Israeli occupation of Palestinian land had inflicted a “wound” on the Muslim world, according to a segment of his remarks broadcast on Iran’s…
Ex-PM Keita to face Cisse in Mali election run-off
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s postwar election produced no clear winner and former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will face ex-Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse in a run-off due on August 11, the government said on Friday.
Berlusconi says Italy needs justice reform or elections
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center right must push for reform of the justice system or seek new elections, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told lawmakers from his People of Freedom Party, according to a source at the meeting on Friday.
Brazil enacts tough anti-bribery law required by OECD
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Bribing a public official in Brazil could become a very onerous mistake for local and foreign businesses under a law enacted on Friday that for the first time makes companies liable for bribes paid by their employees.
U.S., Arab nations working to bring Egypt parties together: Kerry
LONDON (Reuters) – The United States and other nations are working to bring Egypt’s interim government and the Muslim Brotherhood together to find a peaceful resolution to the current crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
U.N. chief names former Bulgarian foreign minister as Iraq envoy
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday appointed former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov as his special envoy to Iraq, where security has deteriorated as Sunni Islamist groups step up an insurgency against t…
Kikwete says wants to mend Tanzania’s ‘shaken’ Rwanda relations
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said on Friday relations with Rwanda had soured because of his efforts to bring peace to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Greek civil aviation workers call strike against layoffs
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek civil aviation workers plan to disrupt flights for three days next week in protest at government plans to fire 300 airport staff, their union said on Friday.
Czech president told to cut smoking, drinking due to health
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman, known for his love of alcohol and smoking, was told on Friday to drastically cut down on both after being diagnosed with diabetes, the health minister said.
