Egypt’s Mursi tightens Islamist grip with governor appointments
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi named a member of an Islamist group remembered for a bloody attack on Western tourists in the ancient city of Luxor over a decade ago as governor of that province on Sunday.
Niger police ‘attack’ may be guards’ over-reaction: minister
NIAMEY (Reuters) – An inquiry into shooting at a military police academy in Niger’s capital Niamey found no evidence of an attack on the camp, suggesting it could have been an over-reaction by nervous guards, the foreign minister said on Sunday.
Czech prime minister steps down after graft scandal
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas was forced to quit on Sunday by a graft and spying scandal involving his closest aide, pitching the European Union member state into a period of uncertainty over who will form the next government.
Far-right candidate pushes out Socialist in French by-election
BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) – A far-right candidate beat France’s ruling Socialist party on Sunday to a place in a by-election run-off vote, reducing the government’s slim parliamentary majority and highlighting the rise of the National Front.
UK spied on G20 officials in London: report
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain intercepted phone calls and monitored computers used by officials taking part in two high-level international finance meetings in London in 2009, a British newspaper said on Sunday.
Iranians count on president-elect Rohani to bring change
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian president-elect Hassan Rohani, who won a landslide victory promising better relations abroad and more freedom at home, on Sunday paid his first visit since the vote to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who will ultimately…
Israel toughens law against anti-Palestinian vandals
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel approved new measures on Sunday against Jewish ultranationalists who vandalise Palestinian property in a drive to mire security forces in sectarian violence in the occupied West Bank.
Bulgarians rally against government in power for two weeks
SOFIA (Reuters) – Thousands of Bulgarian protesters demanded the resignation of their new Socalist-led government on Sunday, but the prime minister dismissed the prospect of stepping down as “highly irresponsible” and “destabilising”.
Ring row: Kremlin says Super Bowl ring was a gift to Putin
LONDON (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin’s opponents often brand him a “thief” at street protests. Now the Kremlin is dismissing an American football team owner’s account of how the Russian president ended up with his diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring when th…
Kuwait court dissolves parliament, orders new vote
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwait’s constitutional court dissolved parliament on Sunday and called for fresh elections under a voting system rejected by the opposition, a move that could bring more volatility to a Gulf Arab state hit by extraordinary street pr…