France mulls pension changes to give laborers more say over when they retire
VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France (Reuters) – France’s government is mulling a points-based retirement credit system rather than a years-of-work tally for people in tough physical jobs, to give them more say over when they retire, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ay…
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe plans ‘final phase’ of black ownership plan
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday he saw his victory in last month’s election as a mandate for “total” application of policies forcing foreign-owned firms to sell majority stakes to local investors.
Palestinian PM who resigned is asked again to form government
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Tuesday to form a new government just two months after accepting his resignation in a dispute over his powers.
Strikes prevent Libya from issuing September oil export plans
LONDON (Reuters) – Significant oil exporter Libya cannot make any promises to clients now about its deliveries of crude next month as on-off strikes paralyze its major sea terminals, the OPEC member said on Tuesday.
British architect held in Greece over Pakistan building collapse
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek police have arrested a British architect over the collapse of an apartment complex in Pakistan eight years ago that killed 78 people, officials said on Tuesday.
Signs of economic recovery in Britain lift Cameron’s poll hopes
LONDON (Reuters) – Signs of a fledgling economic recovery in Britain have boosted voter trust in Prime Minister David Cameron’s financial stewardship, strengthening his prospects ahead of an election in 2015, a poll showed on Tuesday.
Taliban warn Pakistan government over executions
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan will execute two jailed militants next week, ending a five-year moratorium on capital punishment, a move condemned by the Pakistani Taliban as an act of war sure to trigger more violence.
China bans extravagant official galas to curb graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will ban officials from holding extravagant galas linked to official meetings that have hurt the image of the government, the latest move by President Xi Jinping to fight corruption, state media said on Tuesday.
U.S. should hold confidential direct talks with Iran: think tank
DUBAI (Reuters) – The United States should hold confidential direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program but the West should not expect Iran’s moderate new president to offer major concessions, a prominent think-tank said on Tuesday.
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says open to talks on crisis
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Muslim Brotherhood is ready to take part in talks on Egypt’s political crisis mediated by the country’s leading Islamic authority, as long as they are on the right terms, its spokesman said on Tuesday.