Rocket attack kills custodian of Syrian Shi’ite shrine
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A rocket strike near a Shi’ite Muslim shrine in Damascus killed a custodian of the site on Friday, activists and residents said, in an attack that could inflame sectarian tensions in Syria’s 28-month-old conflict.
Italy court asks prosecutors to examine Berlusconi role in trial
MILAN (Reuters) – The Italian court which convicted three associates of Silvio Berlusconi on Friday for abetting underage prostitution asked prosecutors to investigate whether he and others should face further charges over evidence given in the case.
Arrested prelate wanted to tell pope of suspect activity: document
ROME (Reuters) – An arrested Catholic prelate asked to meet Pope Francis to tell him of irregular activities in the Vatican’s financial administration before he was detained on suspicion of money smuggling, according to a judicial document and a legal …
Kremlin urges Navalny supporters not to break the law
NOVOGORSK, Russia (Reuters) – The Kremlin warned supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Friday that they must abide by the law following protests against his conviction on theft charges.
Nigeria to pull many peacekeepers from Mali, Darfur
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria plans to withdraw much of its 1,200-strong contingent from international peacekeeping missions in Mali and Sudan’s Darfur region saying the troops are needed to beef up security at home, sources familiar with the matter said o…
Cameroon must investigate gay rights activist killing: groups
YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Campaign groups urged Cameroon to carry out a thorough investigation into the brutal killing of a gay rights activist, the latest attack on people fighting to legalize homosexuality in the central African country.
Turkey’s Erdogan slams world’s ‘double standards’ on Egypt
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Western and Arab nations of “double standards” for failing to condemn the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, whose Muslim Brotherhood like Erdogan has Islamist roots.
Briton kidnapped in Nigeria’s Lagos this week
ABUJA (Reuters) – A British national was kidnapped in Nigeria this week shortly after arriving at Lagos airport, the British High Commission said on Friday.
Suicide bomber kills 20 in Iraqi Sunni mosque
BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) – A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Sunni mosque in central Iraq, killing at least 20 people in the middle of a sermon on Friday.
Syria cracks down on Assad’s non-violent opponents
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces have detained a dissident left-wing painter in a new wave of arrests of non-violent critics of President Bashar al-Assad, opposition groups said on Friday.
