Economic issues whip up Israelis in chocolate pudding election
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s high cost of living is set to dominate a March 17 election that could shake up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, with voter anger symbolized by an overpriced dessert.
Greek PM offers 2015 election once bailout talks complete
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras offered on Sunday to bring pro-European independents into the government and hold new elections in late 2015 if lawmakers back him to elect a new president.
Four militants hanged in Pakistan as execution campaign widens
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan hanged four Islamist militants on Sunday in the second set of executions since the government lifted a moratorium after the Taliban massacred 132 children and nine others at a school last week.
U.S. firm finds malware targeting visitors to Afghan government websites
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Malicious software likely linked to China is being used to infect visitors to a wide range of official Afghan government websites, U.S. cybersecurity researchers say.
Sudan rights group says raided after opposition unity deal
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Security forces raided the Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights on Sunday, just weeks after jailing its former leader, the monitoring group’s leader said, in what activists fear is a widening crackdown ahead of a presidential elec…
Uzbeks vote in elections expected to reinforce Karimov’s grip on power
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Uzbeks went to the polls on Sunday to vote in parliamentary elections at which all four parties support President Islam Karimov, ensuring that the ballot will further reinforce his 23-year grip on power.
Iran nuclear diplomat gets key post as head of foreign oil deals
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has appointed a backstage strategist in nuclear talks with world powers as chief of foreign petroleum contracts, the oil ministry said, a job that will hinge largely on any settlement of its atomic dispute with the West.
Iohannis promises corruption crackdown as new Romanian president
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Center politician Klaus Iohannis was sworn in as Romania’s president on Sunday, promising to crack down on corruption and strengthen institutions 25 years after the fall of communism.
Lebanon says it needs French helicopters quickly to fight jihadis
PARIS (Reuters) – Lebanon hopes France will deliver helicopters to its army faster than planned so it can fight jihadis encroaching from neighboring Syria, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam said in an interview on Sunday.
Egypt retires hardline intelligence chief
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s intelligence chief, who took office in mid-2013 after the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, has been retired from the job, the presidency said on Sunday.
