UK minister calls for review of ‘Help to Buy’ scheme
(Reuters) – The UK’s business minister has called for a rethink of the government’s “Help to Buy” scheme because of concerns over a housing boom in London and South East England.
Syrian helicopter bomb raids kill 42 in Aleppo: monitors
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At least 42 people, including children, were killed on Sunday when Syrian army helicopters dropped improvised “barrel bombs” in the northern province of Aleppo, a monitoring group said.
Bomb explodes on Israeli bus, no one hurt: police
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A bomb that Israeli authorities suspect was planted by Palestinian militants exploded in a bus near Tel Aviv on Sunday after passengers were evacuated, and police said no one was hurt.
Suicide bomber kills seven outside Libya’s Benghazi
BARSIS, Libya (Reuters) – A suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint outside the city of Benghazi on Sunday, killing 13 soldiers in the first such attack in Libya’s deepening turmoil.
World powers and Iran pause nuclear talks for Christmas
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Six world powers and Iran have suspended their expert-level talks on implementing a landmark nuclear deal until after Christmas, a spokeswoman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Sunday.
Freed Khodorkovsky challenges Putin over ‘political prisoners’
BERLIN/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said on Sunday he would not seek power in Russia but fight for the freedom of political prisoners, challenging Vladimir Putin two days after the president freed him from jail.
French president “regrets” quip on Algerian security
PARIS (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande expressed regret on Sunday that a quip he made about poor security in Algeria had caused an outcry in the former French colony, as opponents accused him of a diplomatic blunder.
Immigrants sew mouths shut in Italy to demand release
ROME (Reuters) – Nine illegal immigrants detained in Italy have stitched their lips together with thread from their bedsheets in a protest to demand their release from what they say are intolerable living conditions.
Mozambique airliner crashed with autopilot on: experts’ report
MAPUTO (Reuters) – A Mozambican airliner that crashed in Namibia last month, killing all 33 people on board, descended with its automatic pilot on and its altitude selector set to below ground level, according to a preliminary report released this week…
Czech party head says he should hold two jobs in coalition
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The leader of one of the Czech parties negotiating to form a coalition government said on Sunday he should hold two positions in the new government, as finance minister and as vice premier.
