Indian parliament approves creating new state despite MPs’ protests
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian lawmakers passed a bill to create the country’s 29th state on Thursday despite mayhem in parliament, as opponents made a futile last attempt to stop the upper house carving landlocked Telangana from coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Egypt puts three Al Jazeera journalists on trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt put three Al Jazeera journalists on trial on Thursday on charges of aiding members of a “terrorist organization”, in a case that human rights groups say shows the authorities are trampling on freedom of expression.
Mortar attack on crowded market in Iraqi town kills 20
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 20 people were killed in Iraq when three mortar rounds struck a crowded market in a mainly Shi’ite Muslim town of Mussayab on Thursday evening, police and medics said.
Turkey’s embattled Erdogan seeks wider powers for spy agency
ANKARA (Reuters) – Battling a corruption scandal, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is seeking broader powers for his intelligence agency, including more scope for eavesdropping and legal immunity for its top agent, according to a draft law seen by…
South Sudan oil state capital divided, crude output down
JUBA (Reuters) – The capital of South Sudan’s main oil-producing region was divided between the army and rebels on Thursday after the worst fighting since a January ceasefire stoked jitters in global oil markets.
Germany’s Schulz details plans for EU Commission presidency bid
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Parliament President Martin Schulz, a leading candidate to become the next president of the European Commission, laid out his campaign proposals on Thursday, saying it was essential to restore citizens’ trust in the Europe…
Hungary delays war memorial until after April vote
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary late on Wednesday delayed the unveiling of a planned World War Two memorial until after elections in April, the latest twist in a bitter dispute with Jewish groups who say the monument whitewashes Hungary’s role in the Holo…
Panama Canal expansion work to resume after deal with consortium
PANAMA CITY/MADRID (Reuters) – Work on the multibillion-dollar Panama Canal expansion was set to restart on Thursday after a partial agreement between the canal authorities and a Spanish-led consortium, raising hopes for the program after a two-week hi…
Libyans vote for constitution body amid bombs, tensions
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Explosions rocked five polling stations in eastern Libya on Thursday as voters began electing a body to draft a new constitution, another step in the OPEC producer’s rocky transition since Muammar Gaddafi fell in 2011.
Italy votes to phase out public financing of political parties
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament passed a law on Thursday that will phase out state financing of political parties, in response to public anger over its high cost and the tendency for it to breed waste and corruption.
