Bulgarian government faces second no-confidence vote
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s opposition GERB party called on Thursday for a second vote of no-confidence in the Socialist-led government in just eight days, in a move that underscores the political crisis gripping the European Union’s poorest country.
China arrests journalist amid crackdown on rumors
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese investigative journalist who has accused officials of corruption has been arrested, his lawyer said on Thursday, becoming the latest in a series of government critics to be swept up in Beijing’s crackdown on rumors.
Egypt criticizes U.S. decision to halt aid
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt on Thursday criticized the U.S. decision to halt some aid to the army-backed government following a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood that has plunged the country into a violent political crisis.
Former Liberian leader Taylor to serve time in a British jail
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president sentenced to 50 years in prison for crimes against humanity by an international tribunal, will serve his jail term in Britain, the British government said on Thursday.
Former Belgian prime minister Martens dies
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Former Belgian prime minister Wilfried Martens, one of the architects of Belgium’s federal division and a long-time leading figure in the European Parliament, has died at the age of 77.
Azeri election marred by serious shortcomings: observers
BAKU (Reuters) – The vote that handed Azeri President Ilham Aliyev a third term was marred by serious shortcomings and failed to fully meet Azerbaijan’s commitments to genuine and democratic elections, international observers said on Thursday.
Libyan PM Zeidan freed by former rebels: sources
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been freed by former rebels who seized him from a hotel earlier on Thursday, a security source and a member of Libyan’s national assembly said.
Special Report: The real force behind Egypt’s ‘revolution of the state’
CAIRO (Reuters) – In Hosni Mubarak’s final days in office in 2011, the world’s gaze focused on Cairo, where hundreds of thousands of protesters demanded the resignation of one of the Arab world’s longest serving autocrats.
Azeri opposition to contest presidential election result in court
BAKU (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s opposition said on Thursday it would challenge in court President Ilham Aliyev’s victory in an election it said was marred by ballot stuffing and police interference.
Fugitive Snowden’s father in Russia, hopes to see son
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden’s father arrived in Moscow on Thursday to see his son, who was granted asylum in Russia after he leaked details of government surveillance programs and fled the United States.
