Italy’s Renzi clears hurdle in parliament on labor law
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to pass Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s Jobs Act, clearing the way for final approval in the Senate next month of a law aimed at making hiring and firing rules simpler.
Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church urges government not to use pope’s visit to help election campaign
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church has urged the government not to use a forthcoming visit by Pope Francis to help its re-election campaign after media reported posters had appeared depicting the pontiff blessing President Mahinda Rajapaks…
Pope says orders investigation into sexual abuse in Spain
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) – Pope Francis said on Tuesday he had personally ordered an investigation into a case of sexual abuse of a minor by priests in Spain because he felt the church should not hide the truth.
Dutch detain three men suspected of wanting to join militants in Syria: prosecutors
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch authorities detained three men on charges of plotting attacks and seeking to join a militant group affiliated with al Qaeda, the Nusra Front in Syria, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Iran hardliners round on Rouhani but supreme leader backs more nuclear talks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Hardliners rounded on President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday after negotiators failed to end the Iranian nuclear dispute but the man who ultimately matters, the country’s supreme leader, tacitly backed a renewed push for a deal.
Female suicide bombers kill at least 21 in Nigeria’s northeast
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Two female suicide bombers killed at least 21 people on Tuesday in a busy market area of Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, center of a militant Islamist insurgency, emergency services said.
Street protests in Burkina Faso prompt minister’s resignation
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – A minister in Burkina Faso’s transitional government seen as close to former President Blaise Compaore’s administration resigned on Tuesday following two days of protests over his appointment, the prime minister’s office said.
South Sudan warns U.N. that sanctions could fuel confrontation
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – South Sudan warned the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that imposing sanctions to try to end nearly a year of violence in the world’s youngest state would likely “harden positions toward confrontation rather than c…
Jewish-nation bill frays Israel’s delicate social fabric
KAFR QASSEM, Israel (Reuters) – Israel is poised to pass one of the most divisive laws in its 66-year history, a bill that would declare it the homeland of the Jewish people only — and further alienate its Arab minority.
Bulgarian forces raid homes and mosque, detain prayer leader
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian security forces raided over 40 homes and a mosque in southern Bulgaria on Tuesday to seize books and computers in a special operation aimed at uncovering radical Islamist activities.
