Italy’s Letta meets centre right, fails to resolve problems
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta met with Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party on Wednesday to seek a solution to a stand-off that threatens his fragile coalition, but positions remained “distant”, a government source said.
China to join global crackdown on tax evasion
WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – China has agreed to join the international effort by the Group of 20 leading economies to combat tax evasion by signing an agreement to share tax records, the OECD said Wednesday.
Ousted Egyptian leader Mubarak to be put under house arrest
CAIRO (Reuters) – Deposed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak will be put under house arrest, the prime minister’s office said on Wednesday.
White House calls for U.N. probe of alleged Syria gas attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Wednesday called on the United Nations to urgently investigate allegations of massive deadly chemical weapons use by Syrian government forces, an attack which if confirmed could increase pressure on President B…
Fear returns to Egypt as state crackdown widens
CAIRO (Reuters) – A climate of fear that kept Egyptians compliant during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak is creeping back into daily life, less than three years after the revolt that toppled him.
France, Britain say U.N. must access alleged Syria attack site
PARIS (Reuters) – France and Britain said on Wednesday that United Nations inspectors currently in Syria should be allowed immediate access to the site of an alleged deadly chemical weapons attack.
Peru coffee growers clash with police in protests
LIMA (Reuters) – Coffee growers from Peru’s central jungle clashed with police on Wednesday as they demanded more government help in grappling with the roya fungus that has eaten up their crops and earnings this year.
Close Cameron aides asked paper to destroy Snowden data
LONDON (Reuters) – Two of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s most senior aides pressed the Guardian newspaper to hand over or destroy intelligence secrets leaked by Edward Snowden, political sources said on Wednesday.
Clashes in Central African Republic kill at least 10
BANGUI (Reuters) – At least 10 people were killed in clashes across the capital of the Central African Republic between supporters of its former president and the fighters who ousted him and seized power five months ago, officials said.
Mali’s Keita promises new government chosen on merit, not favors
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s president-elect Ibrahim Boubacar Keita pledged on Wednesday to choose a cabinet based on competence rather than party affiliation or family ties, a sign he will break a tradition of weak consensus governments.
