Turkish government to debate reforms as Kurdish pressure mounts
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s government is expected to begin debating a package of long-awaited reforms next week aimed at bolstering Kurdish rights and boosting democracy, a step which could help keep a fragile peace process on track.
France mulls pension changes to give labourers 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…
Tunisian Islamists, secularists gird for rival shows of strength
TUNIS (Reuters) – Islamists and the secular opposition in Tunisia planned street rallies in rival shows of strength on Tuesday, raising the risk of violence and threat to the democratic transition in the birthplace of the Arab Spring.
Peace talks resume under cloud of Israeli construction
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A 10-minute drive from where negotiators will sit down on Wednesday to resume long-stalled Middle East peace talks, Israeli bulldozers are busy reshaping land that Palestinians want for their future state.
Insight: As Afghanistan endgame looms, a deadly edge to India-Pakistan rivalry
BARAMULLA/NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) – Pakistan-based militants are preparing to take on India across the subcontinent once Western troops leave Afghanistan next year, several sources say, raising the risk of a dramatic spike in tensions between nuclea…
India auditor says wrongdoing in Italy chopper deal, piles pressure on government
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian negotiators set a higher base price for the purchase of helicopters from AgustaWestland and frequently changed the bidding rules, the federal auditor said on Tuesday, making it harder for the government to complete the 560 …
Palestinian prisoner release on track after court ruling
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s plans to free 26 Palestinian prisoners to help underpin renewed peace talks remained on track on Tuesday after its High Court rejected an appeal against their release.
Czech PM hands in resignation, early election nears
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech cabinet dominated by allies of leftist President Milos Zeman resigned on Tuesday after losing a confidence vote last week, clearing the way for early elections that could resolve a political deadlock.
Croatian farmers press protests over lost subsidies
ZAGREB (Reuters) – Croatian farmers said on Tuesday they would press protests to demand the government pay them 600 million kuna ($105.83 million) in lost subsidies, cut in a budget crunch to meet deficit targets set by the European Union.
Hungary investigates premature baby deaths at hospital
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has ordered an inquiry into the deaths of eight premature babies in five days at a hospital in the northeastern city of Miskolc.
