Russia’s business amnesty kicks off with a handful freed
MOSCOW (Reuters) – An amnesty for Russia’s jailed entrepreneurs, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, has begun with 13 people freed so far, the country’s business ombudsman said on Tuesday.
EU justice chief backs Bulgarian anti-graft protesters
SOFIA (Reuters) – The European Union’s justice chief said on Tuesday she sympathized with Bulgarian protesters who have held almost daily rallies against corruption, and urged the government to reform its judicial system.
U.N. chemical arms chief arrives in Beirut before Syria trip
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The head of a U.N. chemical weapons investigation team arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday on his way to Syria to discuss his probe into allegations that chemical arms have been used in Syria’s civil war.
Turkey’s main opposition leader lambastes PM over media freedom
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s main opposition leader accused Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday of cowing local media into self-censorship after a journalist group said dozens of reporters were fired for their coverage of anti-government protests.
Madagascar opposition leader arrested, compounding crisis
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Police arrested an opposition leader in Madagascar on charges of holding an illegal rally on Tuesday, compounding the island nation’s political crisis.
Pan-Kurdish congress planned to unify ranks amid regional turmoil
ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Kurds from Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria have agreed to convene a pan-Kurdish congress to tackle historical divisions and position themselves to take full advantage of regional upheaval.
Italian police crack billion euro tax evasion ring
ROME (Reuters) – Italian police have smashed a major tax evasion ring that smuggled 1 billion euros ($1.32 billion) a year for prominent show business, business and banking figures into the tiny state of San Marino, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian charged under terrorism law with murder, mosque blasts
LONDON (Reuters) – A 25-year old Ukrainian man appeared in court on Tuesday, charged under terrorism laws with the murder of a British Muslim in Birmingham and with planting explosive devices at three mosques.
Sultan of Oman pardons people jailed for 2011 protests
DUBAI (Reuters) – Oman’s Sultan Qaboos has pardoned activists jailed for taking part in anti-government protests two years ago, media reported, his latest gesture to citizens worried about unemployment and inadequate pay.
Moldovan doctors use household tools for surgery in leaked video
CHISINAU (Reuters) – Doctors at a Moldovan state-run hospital used household tools, including an electric drill and pliers, to perform surgery in a video leaked to local press and published on the Internet, prompting outrage among the public and govern…
