Former China politician Bo’s trial could start this week: source
BEIJING (Reuters) – The trial of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai could begin as early as this week, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the end of China’s most sensational scandal in decades.
Egypt army chief calls for protests against violence
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for nationwide rallies on Friday to give the military a mandate to confront what he termed violence and terrorism following the ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
Gunmen shoot dead nine policemen in northern Iraq
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Militants riding on pick-up trucks opened fire on a checkpoint in northern Iraq on Wednesday, killing nine policemen, police said.
Portugal political crisis a catalogue of missteps
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s political crisis may have been papered over but the ill-timed power games have done little to help the bailed-out country’s credibility abroad.
Kazakh ambassador denies pushing Italy to deport dissident’s wife
ROME (Reuters) – Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Rome on Wednesday denied his government had pressured the Italian interior minister to deport the wife and daughter of a dissident oligarch in a case that threatened to bring down the fragile coalition govern…
Italian president warns against early elections
ROME (Reuters) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, speaking before a parliamentary confidence vote on Wednesday, warned squabbling politicians not to precipitate early elections, saying uncertainty would endanger Italy.
Russia’s Putin to visit Tehran for nuclear talks: media reports
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet Iran’s newly elected president in Tehran next month to discuss restarting talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Russian and Iranian media reports said on Wednesday.
Italian government faces confidence vote on growth package
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian government called a confidence vote on Wednesday to push through a broad package of measures delayed by debate on hundreds of proposed amendments.
Senior Merkel ally says “very worried” about France: paper
BERLIN (Reuters) – A leader of Germany’s junior coalition party, the Free Democrats (FDP), has said he is very concerned about France and warned of severe consequences if the French economy does not recover.
Analysis: Southern Europe awaits German election in fear, hope
MADRID (Reuters) – Like the coming of the messiah, depressed southern Europe nations await Angela Merkel’s likely victory in Germany’s September election with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
