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New Palestinian government sworn in amid factional tensions

RAMALLAH, GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday swore in a new government headed by a loyalist from his dominant Fatah party, a move rejected by his Islamist rival Hamas as a blow to unity efforts.

Mohammed Shtayyeh, an economist and longtime Abbas adviser, will serve as prime minister of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA). Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Finance Minister Shukri Bishara will continue in their positions.

Shtayyeh was named Palestinian prime minister on March 10, replacing the independent university president Rami Al-Hamdallah. He will run the ministries of interior and religious affairs until new appointees are named for the two posts.

The rival Hamas group that runs Gaza called the move blow to unity efforts that faltered since the two groups signed a new reconciliation deal in Cairo in October 2017, but disputes over power-sharing had blocked the implementation of the agreement.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-politics/new-palestinian-government-sworn-in-amid-factional-tensions-idUSKCN1RP0KM

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Ex-Venezuelan intelligence chief jailed in Spain pending decision on U.S. extradition

MADRID (Reuters) - Hugo Carvajal, a former Venezuelan military intelligence chief who Washington believes has valuable information on President Nicolas Maduro, was jailed on Saturday by Spain’s High Court pending a decision on an extradition request to the United States, a court spokesman said.

A former general and close ally of former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, Carvajal was arrested by Spanish police on Friday on a U.S. warrant for drug trafficking charges.

Following Carvajal’s arrest, the United States hailed on Friday his possible collaboration as a potential boon in the fight against Maduro, who still retains control of the bulk of Venezuela’s armed forces and state institutions.

During the hearing, Carvajal denied links with drug trafficking and Colombia’s FARC rebel group and challenged his potential extradition to the United States, the spokesman said.

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