Madagascar votes in first presidential election since 2009 coup
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – The people of Madagascar vote on Friday in a presidential election they hope will end a five-year crisis and rebuild investor confidence to mend an economy crippled since President Andry Rajoelina seized power in a 2009 coup.
Merkel frosty on the U.S. over ‘unacceptable’ spying allegations
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused the United States of an unacceptable breach of trust on Thursday after allegations that the U.S. bugged her personal mobile phone, and she indicated data agreements with Washington may have t…
U.N. nuclear agency chief to meet top Iran negotiator
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. atomic agency chief and a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator will meet on Monday before a new round of talks over the Islamic state’s disputed atomic activities, the agency said on Thursday.
Spanish students, teachers protest against education cuts, reform
MADRID (Reuters) – Thousands of students, lecturers and parents took to the streets across Spain on Thursday to protest against austerity cuts, higher university fees and other changes to the education system.
Thousands of desperate Eritreans fleeing rights abuses: U.N. envoy
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Eritreans risk being shot to death by their own troops as they flee their homeland to start a treacherous journey seeking European asylum that killed hundreds of desperate refugees this month when their boats sank, a U.N. env…
Japan secrecy act stirs fears about press freedom, right to know
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is planning a state secrets act that critics say could curtail public access to information on a wide range of issues, including tensions with China and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
U.S. monitored the phone calls of 35 world leaders: report
LONDON (Reuters) – The United States monitored the phone conversations of 35 world leaders according to classified documents leaked by fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden, Britain’s Guardian newspaper said on Thursday.
Germany demands U.S. answers over Merkel bugging
BERLIN (Reuters) – An outraged Germany summoned the U.S. ambassador for the first time in living memory on Thursday over suspicions Washington bugged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone, in the worst spat between the close allies in a decade.
Algeria’s Bouteflika to curb security service power: party official
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika wants to push through constitutional reforms before 2014 elections to put an end to the powerful intelligence service’s role as political kingmaker, the ruling FLN party’s chairman said.
Unrest rises in Tunisia after Islamists kill police officers
KEF, Tunisia (Reuters) – Tunisian security forces fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse hundreds of people trying to storm a local government building as demonstrations broke out over the killing of seven policemen by Islamist militants.
