Pope defends predecessor Pius against Holocaust charges
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has strongly defended his wartime predecessor Pius XII against accusations he turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, saying the opening of Vatican archives will shed light on the controversy.
Croatia supreme court confirms jail for ex-PM Sanader over oil deal
ZAGREB (Reuters) – Croatia’s Supreme Court has confirmed a guilty verdict against former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader for taking a bribe from Hungarian oil group MOL in exchange for allowing it a dominant position in Croatian oil firm INA.
Thai military promises government by August, lifts curfew
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s ruling military government lifted a nationwide curfew on Friday to bolster the country’s vital tourism industry and promised to install an interim government in August.
Tunisia to hold parliamentary then presidential elections this year
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia is set to hold separate parliamentary and presidential elections at the end of the year after political parties resolved a dispute over the election date on Friday, political sources told Reuters.
Thai junta says curfew lifted nationwide
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military government lifted a curfew nationwide on Friday, citing the absence of any violence and the need to support the country’s tourism sector.
West African leaders not taking drug problem seriously enough: Annan
DAKAR (Reuters) – Governments in West Africa are not taking the challenge posed by drug trafficking seriously enough and inaction has allowed high-level criminals to escape, forcing foreign involvement, former U.N. chief Kofi Annan told Reuters.
Egypt’s cabinet to be formed by Sunday, many ministers to stay: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt is expected to unveil a new cabinet by Sunday, three officials said on Friday, with the finance minister and others likely to keep their posts following the election of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Union says wage deal to end South African platinum strike is imminent
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The leader of South Africa’s AMCU union said on Friday a wage deal with the top three platinum producers was imminent, signalling a possible end to a crippling five-month strike that has disrupted global output of the metal.
Merkel still believes Juncker should get EU top job: aide
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has not altered her view that Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker should become president of the European Commission, a government spokesman said on Friday.
China arrests prominent human rights lawyer in case watched by West
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police said on Friday they had arrested a prominent human rights lawyers on charges of causing a disturbance and illegal access to personal information, in a case that has sparked an outcry among rights workers in China and …
