Merkel backs away from debt goal before coalition talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s conservatives have backed away from a campaign pledge to use future budget surpluses to pay down German debt, as they search for new sources of revenue to fund billions of euros in investments sought by their likely c…
Japan eyes review of arms export ban
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan plans to review its self-imposed ban on weapons exports as it seeks to play a more active role in maintaining global peace, according to a draft of the country’s new security strategy, a proposal that could unnerve China and Sou…
Netanyahu’s mission: to head off Iran sanctions relief
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday will seek to dim the optimism after nuclear talks with Iran, cautioning that Tehran is strengthening its strategic regional position by calling the shots in Syria as President Bashar al-Ass…
Student protests at Egypt’s al-Azhar challenge army
CAIRO (Reuters) – Thousands of students from Egypt’s al-Azhar University staged a third day of protests on Monday, in one of the boldest challenges to the army since it toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July.
Italian unions to strike over coalition budget compromise
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s three main trade union confederations will hold strikes and protests against the government’s 2014 budget plan, they said on Monday, piling more pressure on Enrico Letta’s fragile coalition government.
NATO to advise Libya on strengthening security forces
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO agreed on Monday to a Libyan request to advise it on strengthening its security forces, lending support to a country where powerful militias have stoked fears of a slide into anarchy.
Saudi Arabia under fire at U.N. over women’s, migrant worker rights
GENEVA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s human rights record came under fire at the United Nations on Monday with critics accusing the kingdom of jailing activists without due process and abusing the basic rights of Saudi women and foreign workers.
Spain must free ETA militant: European rights court
MADRID (Reuters) – Europe’s top human rights court ordered Spain on Monday to release a Basque separatist militant, saying her extended detention was illegal, a ruling victims groups warned would let dozens of prisoners walk free.
Congo peace talks stall, government rejects amnesty proposal
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Talks to end a two-year-old insurgency in eastern Congo stalled on Monday after the government rejected calls for an amnesty for leaders of the M23 rebel movement, despite weekend statements suggesting a deal was close.
Bangladesh heads for ‘total deadlock’ ahead of scheduled polls
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s main opposition party on Monday refused a request from the prime minister to form an all-party government to oversee upcoming elections, setting the stage for a showdown this week that could delay or even derail the polls…
