Israel approves prisoner release ahead of Palestinian talks
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Sunday approved the release of 104 Arab prisoners in a move intended to facilitate the restart of peace talks with the Palestinians and end nearly three years of diplomatic standstill.
Migrants say 31 missing after boat sinks off Libya: ANSA
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian coastguard has rescued 22 migrants from a boat which sank off the coast of Libya but more than 30 are still missing at sea, ANSA news agency said on Sunday.
Brazil’s Rousseff rules out more spending cuts: newspaper
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ruled out additional spending cuts or a reduction in the number of government ministries from 39, saying the benefits of such measures to spur economic growth would be minimal, Folha de São Paulo newspaper reported on Sunday.
Spain’s Socialists all but level with ruling conservatives: poll
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s opposition Socialists have all but drawn level in the polls with the ruling centre-right for the first time since elections in 2011, a survey showed, as a corruption scandal erodes the government’s popularity.
Tunisian opposition says may set up rival ‘salvation government’
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s secular opposition, angered by two assassinations in its ranks and emboldened by the overthrow of Egypt’s president, said on Sunday it was considering setting up an alternative “salvation government” to challenge the Islamis…
Berlusconi won’t seek ‘exile’ if tax fraud conviction upheld
ROME (Reuters) – Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would not flee Italy and was ready to go to jail rather than face house arrest or community service if a court upholds his conviction for tax fraud next week.
Some 100 prisoners recaptured out of 1,100 in Libyan jail break
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – About 100 inmates out of more than 1,100 who escaped during a prison riot in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi have been recaptured, a security official said on Sunday.
Afghan eyes Iran deal to boost trade to Europe, India
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan hopes an agreement with Iran to use one of its ports will help boost exports to Europe and India and reduce its dependence on neighboring Pakistan’s ports for trade.
Iran’s new president to return Zanganeh to oil ministry: source
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani is expected to return respected former oil minister Bijan Zanganeh to the post he held for eight years until hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to office in 2005, an Iranian industry sou…
Japan, China could hold summit soon: Japanese PM’s adviser
TATSUNO, Japan (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could soon hold a summit meeting with China’s president, Xi Jingping, an adviser to Abe said on Sunday, adding that he had met senior officials close to the Chinese leader on a secret visit …
