Party allies press Polish PM to soften pension reform: sources
WARSAW (Reuters) – Party allies of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are trying to water down a hotly-contested plan to transfer a chunk of assets from private pension funds to the state, sources involved in the discussions told Reuters.
Vietnam’s ‘Red Napoleon’ Vo Nguyen Giap dies, aged 102
HANOI (Reuters) – Vo Nguyen Giap, the self-taught Vietnamese general who masterminded the defeats of France and the United States to become one of the 20th century’s most notable military commanders, died on Friday. He was 102.
Envoys ask Ukraine leader to pardon jailed rival to save EU deal
KIEV (Reuters) – EU envoys formally asked Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday to pardon his jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko, her lawyer said, to end an impasse that threatens landmark agreements between Ukraine and the European Union.
Merkel, SPD welcome further talks on German government
BERLIN (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to meet again in 10 days to explore forming a “grand coalition” government after an initial three-hour meeting on Friday was called constructive by both s…
Italian Senate panel recommends Berlusconi’s expulsion
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian Senate committee on Friday recommended that former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi be expelled from parliament after his conviction for tax fraud, paving the way for a final decision this month that could seal his political…
Netanyahu struggles to set the terms in Iranian dispute
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Iran’s new president was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but he himself looked increasingly like a lone wolf as his allies seek to bring Tehran into the fold.
Youths burn church, riot in Kenya’s Mombasa after imam killed
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) – Young Muslims set fire to a church, burned tires and clashed with police in Kenya’s main port city of Mombasa on Friday, leaving at least four people dead after the killing of an Islamic cleric which his followers blamed on s…
Swiss to vote on 2,500 franc basic income for every adult
BERNE (Reuters) – Switzerland will hold a vote on whether to introduce a basic income for all adults, in a further sign of growing public activism over pay inequality since the financial crisis.
Right-wing coalition prospects fade in Austria
VIENNA (Reuters) – Prospects of a center-right government in Austria faded on Friday as both the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) moved away from a possible alliance with the new Euroskeptic party of industrialist Frank…
Envoys ask Ukraine leader to pardon jailed rival to save EU deal
KIEV (Reuters) – EU envoys asked Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday to pardon jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko, her lawyer said, bringing closer a possible deal to end an impasse threatening landmark agreements between Ukraine and the Euro…
