Czech agro tycoon emerges as king-maker after election
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Slovak-born billionaire and political novice Andrej Babis became the king-maker of Czech politics on Saturday, after voters angry at graft among the country’s political establishment made his new party the second biggest in parliamen…
Israel dismisses reports Iran halting higher-grade enrichment
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Saturday dismissed as “irrelevant” reports that Iran had halted its most sensitive uranium enrichment activity, and said Tehran’s nuclear program must be dismantled.
Italy’s right could split after Berlusconi move: lawmakers
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s political center-right could split, lawmakers said on Saturday, after Silvio Berlusconi resurrected his old Forza Italia party and suspended the People of Freedom (PDL), part of the wobbly left-right coalition government.
United States tracked Merkel’s phone since 2002: report
BERLIN (Reuters) – The United States may have bugged Angela Merkel’s phone for more than 10 years, according to a news report on Saturday that also said President Barack Obama told the German leader he would have stopped it happening had he known about…
No clear outcome as Madagascar election results dribble in
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Results dribbled in from Madagascar’s presidential election on Saturday but two front-runners said a second round looked likely in a vote many hope will restore investor confidence in an economy left paralyzed by a coup four ye…
Czech center-left ekes out slim poll victory, tough coalition talks loom
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrats won a slim victory in a parliamentary election on Saturday but faced a tough task forming a government after a wave of voter anger over sleaze and budget cuts propelled new protest parties into parliament.
Italy’s Mount Etna volcano erupts
ROME (Reuters) – Europe’s tallest and most active volcano Mount Etna erupted on Saturday, spewing glowing lava into the air and sending a vast plume of smoke over the southern Italian island of Sicily.
Army says pushing back M23 rebels in eastern Congo
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – The Congolese army said it made significant advances against eastern rebel forces in a second day of fierce fighting on Saturday and called on neighboring Rwanda to help disarm the insurgents.
Militants say ex-army major carried out Cairo suicide attack
CAIRO (Reuters) – A Sinai-based Islamist militant group that claimed a September assassination attempt on Egypt’s interior minister released a video on Saturday saying a former major in the army carried out the suicide bombing.
Kosovo issues arrest warrant for Serb minister for illegal entry
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo has issued an arrest warrant for a Serbian minister who entered the country illegally, a police spokesman said on Saturday, a move that may hamper implementation of a deal to normalise ties between Pristina and Belgrade.
