Egypt investigates disappearance of author critical of Islam
CAIRO (Reuters) – Police in Cairo are investigating the disappearance of an Egyptian-born German author and critic of Islam, security sources said on Tuesday, months after a cleric declared him an infidel and called for his death.
Ex-UK minister not conspiracy victim in ‘pleb’ row: prosecutors
LONDON (Reuters) – A British government minister who resigned after a foul-mouthed altercation with armed police outside Prime Minister David Cameron’s office was not the victim of “a conspiracy of misinformation” to smear him, prosecutors said on Tues…
Indian dentist couple handed life sentence for killing daughter
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian court sentenced a dentist couple to life in prison on Tuesday for the murder of their 14-year-old daughter and a Nepalese servant five years ago, concluding a sensational trial that has sharply divided public opinion.
Philippine Senate approves $2.28 billion reconstruction budget
MANILA. (Reuters) – The Philippine Congress set up a reconstruction fund of 100 billion pesos ($2.28 billion) on Tuesday after approving next year’s 2.2 trillion peso national budget, 13 percent higher than this year’s figure.
Two Swedish journalists missing in Syria
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden is investigating the disappearance of two Swedish journalists who are missing in Syria, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Turks worry as sons go to fight in Syria
SANLIURFA, Turkey (Reuters) – Abu Huseyin says he has sent dozens of people from this ancient city in southeastern Turkey to join jihadist groups in northern Syria and vows to continue helping them fulfill what he says is their duty to God.
Russia says EU criticism over Ukraine shift inappropriate
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman hit back at the European Union on Tuesday, saying it was wrong to criticize Russia over Ukraine’s decision to back away from a trade deal with the EU and draw closer to Moscow.
Berlusconi wavers ahead of confidence vote on Italy budget
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday his party was still undecided on whether to withdraw its support for Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s government, just hours before a confidence vote over the 2014 budget.
U.S. says may pull out all troops as Afghan leader holds up deal
KABUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign a security deal with the United States, the White House said, opening up the prospect of a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from the strife-torn nation next year.
Merkel, SPD ready for all-night showdown on German coalition
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) will meet late on Tuesday to try to hammer out a “grand coalition” agreement in a decisive round of negotiations expected to last until far beyond midnight.
