French government on defensive over Sarkozy phone-taps
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s justice minister on Wednesday defied calls for her to quit after it emerged that she knew former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s phone was being tapped, apparently contradicting an earlier statement from her.
Greek public sector workers strike over job cuts, thousands rally
ATHENS (Reuters) – Thousands of striking public sector workers marched through Athens on Wednesday to protest against planned job cuts demanded by foreign lenders as unemployment in the country holds near record highs.
Islamist militants, local men said to kill 22 in Syrian village
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamist militants and their local supporters have killed at least 22 people in a village in northern Syria near the Turkish border, opposition activists said on Wednesday.
Little-known group claims killing of Swedish journalist in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – A little-known militant group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for killing a Swedish journalist in the Afghan capital, saying he was a spy for British intelligence.
Swiss investigating Uzbek president’s daughter over money laundering
ZURICH (Reuters) – Switzerland’s public prosecutor said on Wednesday it was investigating Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan’s president, on suspicion of money laundering.
Thai court deals prime minister setback as bank signals concern
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra suffered a setback on Wednesday when a court ruled that legislation aimed at raising billions of dollars for investment in ambitious infrastructure projects was unconstitutional.
In a boost for PM Renzi, Italy approves new electoral law
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s lower house of parliament approved a new electoral law aimed at ensuring more stable governments on Wednesday, giving a boost to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as he prepares to unveil a fresh package of tax cuts and economic refo…
South Africa rebukes Rwanda over attacks on exiled opponents
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa delivered a diplomatic slap to Rwanda on Wednesday, saying it would not tolerate attacks on its soil against exiled Rwandan opposition members, actions which Pretoria has linked to expelled diplomats from Rwanda’s emb…
Israel cuts army exemption granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament on Wednesday approved a contentious law that abolishes blanket military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students, ending a tradition upheld since the state’s foundation.
Six killed in Thailand in three-car crash caused by elephant
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Six people were killed in Thailand in a three-vehicle accident when a van crashed into a wild elephant crossing a road in pre-dawn darkness on Wednesday, a hospital official said.
