Malian army and rebels accused of rights abuses ahead of talks
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Rights groups on Friday accused Mali’s army and Tuareg separatist rebels of torturing and killing civilians despite the presence of France’s military, hours before peace talks between the two sides were due to begin.
Former dental hygienist says she had “true love” for Berlusconi
MILAN (Reuters) – A former dental hygienist accused of procuring a minor for paid sex with Silvio Berlusconi rejected the charge on Friday and said her relationship with the 76-year-old media billionaire had been based on “true love”.
Bolivia frees seven Brazilian soccer fans, holds five over boy’s death
La PAZ (Reuters) – A Bolivian judge has freed seven of the 12 Brazilian soccer fans held since February as part of an investigation into the death of a Bolivian boy from a flare allegedly launched by supporters of Brazil’s Corinthians soccer club.
Analysis: Golan fighting spells more Syria trouble for Israel
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Brush fires from stray mortar bombs were still ablaze on the occupied Golan Heights on Friday as Israeli farmers returned to their fields, a day after battles in Syria’s civil war reached a U.N.-manned border crossing.
Czech government exempts entrepreneurs, firms from tax after flooding
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech finance ministry will exempt entrepreneurs and companies hit by this week’s floods from paying some income tax, it said on Friday.
Putin tends to image with public split, but will he remarry?
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Hours after President Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, told Russians their marriage was over, an anchorman on a satirical on-line show gravely announced the latest news: Putin has named Lyudmila “acting First Lady”.
Russia can replace Austria in U.N. Golan monitoring force: Putin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is ready to replace peacekeepers from Austria in the Golan Heights, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, after Vienna said it would recall its troops from a U.N. monitoring force due to worsening fighting in Syria.
Bissau leader’s new cabinet retains military influence
BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea-Bissau’s interim leader appointed a new cabinet late on Thursday, adding a number of smaller parties to the government ahead of elections promised by the end of 2013 but leaving the military in charge of the key defense and in…
Iran not U.N. nuclear watchdog’s only headache, report shows
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran may be the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s biggest headache but it is not the only country stalling inspectors’ requests for atomic-related information, a new IAEA report suggests.
British queen’s husband, 91, to undergo ‘exploratory’ surgery
LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Philip, the 91-year-old husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, was to undergo “exploratory” surgery on his abdomen on Friday.
