Italian judge rejects Indian bid to recover helicopter deal guarantees
MILAN (Reuters) – An Italian judge has rejected a request by India to recover more than 278 million euros ($387 million) in bank guarantees backing a scrapped helicopter deal with Finmeccanica, the Italian defense group said on Monday.
Car bombs kill at least eight at Libya army academy in Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – A powerful car bomb attack targeted a military academy in Libya’s eastern of city of Benghazi on Monday, killing at least eight people and wounding more than a dozen, hospital and security officials said.
Iran says it foiled sabotage attempt on Arak reactor
DUBAI (Reuters) – Pumps at Iran’s planned Arak reactor, seen by the West as a potential source of plutonium for nuclear bombs, were tampered with in a failed attempt to sabotage the country’s nuclear program, a senior official said on Monday.
China rejects North Korean crimes report, hits chance of prosecution
GENEVA (Reuters) – China dismissed on Monday a U.N. report alleging North Korea has committed crimes against humanity, effectively confirming the fears of human rights advocates that Beijing will shield its ally from international prosecution.
Merkel says impressed by reforms in Italy
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced strong support on Monday for economic reforms unveiled by new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, saying his course struck the right balance between growth and stability.
Iran seeks banned nuclear items, uses China trader for missile parts: U.S.
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has pursued a longstanding effort to buy banned components for its nuclear and missile programs in recent months, a U.S. official said, a period when it struck an interim deal with major powers to limit its disputed atomic activi…
Cubans fret as government prepares currency unification
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba is laying plans to move to a single currency, a reform that many feel is one of the toughest challenges facing President Raul Castro as he tries to kick-start the Communist country’s moribund economy.
Ex-mafioso wins British battle against extradition to Italy
LONDON (Reuters) – A fugitive Sicilian mafioso arrested in Britain last year after living a quiet suburban life under an alias for two decades won a battle against extradition on Monday when the court found that Italy’s prison overcrowding could breach…
Top Ahmadinejad aide indicted amid Iran graft case
DUBAI (Reuters) – Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s top aide has been indicted, apparently in connection with allegations of corruption in the previous administration, Iranian media reported on Monday.
Turkish cleric says Erdogan crackdown worse than army coup era
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen has described a crackdown on his followers by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as “ten times worse” than anything meted out after coups by the secularist army.
