Merkel allies row back on tax hikes before SPD meeting
BERLIN (Reuters) – Leading members of Angela Merkel’s conservatives scrambled on Thursday to quash an impression they might accept tax hikes as part of a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD), a day after strongly signaling they could live wit…
End nears for indebted industrial giants of former Yugoslavia
PODGORICA (Reuters) – There was once a time when a job at Podgorica’s sprawling aluminum plant meant a free apartment, a discount on holiday rentals and a large dose of prestige in socialist Yugoslavia.
Interpol issues alert for ‘White Widow’ sought in Kenya
PARIS (Reuters) – Interpol issued a wanted persons alert at Kenya’s request on Thursday for Samantha Lewthwaite, a British citizen dubbed the “White Widow”, without mentioning her suspected role in the Nairobi mall attack.
Nigerian Islamist ‘leader’ claims killings in video
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – A man claiming to be the leader of Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram in a new video said the sect took responsibility for a highway ambush that killed scores of people last week in one of its deadliest attacks to date.
German left torn over sharing power with Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defeated Social Democrats may struggle to rally support for a ‘grand coalition’ with Angela Merkel’s conservatives from activists who fear the party could wither further in the shadow of the popular chancellor.
Liberia’s Charles Taylor loses appeal against war crimes conviction
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Charles Taylor lost his appeal against a war-crimes conviction on Thursday as judges confirmed a 50-year jail term against the Liberian ex-president for encouraging rebels in Sierra Leone to mutilate, rape and murder victims in it…
Interpol issues alert for ‘white widow’ sought in Kenya
PARIS (Reuters) – International police agency Interpol said on Thursday it had issued an internationally wanted persons alert for Samantha Lewthwaite, a British citizen dubbed the “white widow”, at the request of Kenya.
Turkish security forces capture most Kurds who tunneled out of jail
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – All but one of the 18 Kurds who broke out of a prison by digging a 70-metre tunnel in southeastern Turkey have been caught, officials said.
Russia ready to help guard Syria chemical sites, will not import arms
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is ready to help guard Syrian chemical weapons sites and destroy President Bashar al-Assad’s stockpiles but will not ship any of the chemical arms to Russia for destruction, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thurs…
Sudan says Bashir’s visa request still with U.S. embassy
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan’s Foreign Ministry denied on Thursday that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had decided not to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York and said his visa application was still pending, state media reported.
