Tunisian government and opposition to start talks Saturday: mediator
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s ruling Islamists and their secular opponents will start three weeks of negotiations on Saturday to allow the government to step down and make way for a caretaker cabinet until elections, a labor union mediating the talks sai…
New Russian pension reform fuels nationalization fears
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s government approved a pension system overhaul on Thursday that will give it tighter control over savings accumulated by private funds while reducing the burden of an ageing population on the state’s budget.
Plane crash near Nigeria’s Lagos airport kills 16
LAGOS (Reuters) – Sixteen people were killed when a small passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff outside Lagos airport’s domestic terminal on Thursday, Nigerian authorities said.
French military prepares 2014 cuts, far-right seeks to benefit
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s military will cut almost 8,000 jobs next year, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday, detailing government belt-tightening plans that the far-right hopes will deliver it votes at municipal elections in 2014.
Sudan charges 35 with vandalism after anti-government riots
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Thirty-five people appeared in court on Thursday accused of vandalism during a week of deadly anti-government riots in Sudan, a lawyer said, the first legal proceedings reported in the capital linked to the violence.
Slovene ruling party postpones congress to avert political crisis
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – The party of Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said on Thursday it would postpone its congress to prevent a political crisis in a country struggling to avoid a financial bailout.
EU’s Ashton says crucial for all to join Egyptian political process
CAIRO (Reuters) – European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Egypt’s army-backed government and Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday to take part in an inclusive political process – but neither side seemed prepared to heed the call.
Four Bahrainis jailed for bomb attack in village
MANAMA (Reuters) – Four Bahrainis were sentenced to life in jail on Thursday for planting a bomb targeting police and civilians in March, the state news agency reported, as sectarian and political tensions continue to trouble the tiny Gulf state.
Vatican administration needs total overhaul, cardinals tell pope
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Cardinals advising Pope Francis on how to reform the Vatican believe the Holy See’s central government is so problem-ridden that only a total overhaul can fix it, the Vatican said on Thursday.
Man who brought al Qaeda to Afghanistan now runs for president
KABUL (Reuters) – The man said to be responsible for bringing al Qaeda to Afghanistan announced he was running for president on Thursday, a move likely to be greeted with apprehension by the international community.
