Biden seeks to assure India on Afghanistan, presses on trade
MUMBAI (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sought on Wednesday to ease Indian concern about a possible political settlement with the Afghan Taliban, saying the insurgents would have to give up ties to al Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution t…
NATO needs defense spending to keep edge: commander says
BERLIN (Reuters) – NATO is at its most cohesive yet, its new commander said, but must ensure that spending cuts do not erode the power of an alliance facing tasks as diverse as a new training mission in Afghanistan and protecting Turkey’s border with S…
Italy government survives confidence vote on growth package
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s government easily survived a confidence vote on Wednesday after President Giorgio Napolitano warned squabbling politicians not to precipitate early elections, saying uncertainty would endanger Italy.
Egypt army raises pressure on Islamists with call for rallies
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s military chief called for mass rallies on Friday to give him a mandate to confront violence following the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, appearing to raise the pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Analysis: Southern Europe’s leaders eager for Merkel, public fearful
MADRID (Reuters) – Southern European leaders await Angela Merkel as a potential savior for their depressed economies after her likely re-election in September, but ordinary citizens from Lisbon to Athens just fear more German-ordained austerity.
Poland’s premier backs under-fire finance minister
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s prime minister praised the performance of his finance minister on Wednesday, cooling recent talk that Jacek Rostowski could soon be replaced due to divisions over economic policy.
Egypt’s Tamarud youth group backs army call for protests
CAIRO (Reuters) – Influential Egyptian youth movement Tamarud said it backed an army call for mass rallies on Friday to give the military a mandate to confront street violence following its ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi this month.
Yemen journalist pardoned after three years in prison
SANAA (Reuters) – A Yemeni journalist and expert on al Qaeda has been released after serving three years of a five-year sentence for aiding the Islamist militant network in Yemen, the president’s office said on Wednesday.
Vatican names prelate to replace disgraced Cardinal O’Brien
ROME (Reuters) – The Vatican named a new Scottish archbishop on Wednesday to replace disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who resigned in February after admitting sexual misconduct.
Bulgaria parliament siege escalates political crisis
SOFIA (Reuters) – More than 100 Bulgarian lawmakers, ministers and journalists spent the night besieged inside parliament by anti-corruption protesters before police evacuated them early on Wednesday in the latest instability in the southeast European …
