Egypt economy chiefs vow to ease shortages, cautious on reform
CAIRO (Reuters) – Economic ministers in Egypt’s new military-backed government are pledging to ease shortages and make it easier for factories to operate, while signaling that any major reforms to repair the state’s crumbling finances will be undertake…
Kurds seize town on Syrian-Turkish border
ANKARA (Reuters) – A Syrian Kurdish party with links to Kurdish militants in Turkey has seized control of a Syrian town on the Turkish border after days of clashes with Islamist fighters, the Turkish military said.
Abbas convenes key Palestinians, may resume talks with Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – As Palestinian leaders discussed a possible U.S-brokered resumption of peace talks on Thursday, the Israeli government denied a shift in its conditions that might help end a three-year stalemate.
Trial over Telekom Austria payments to rightist party starts
VIENNA (Reuters) – A former Telekom Austria executive authorized payments of almost a million euros ($1.3 million) to a right-wing party that later changed a law in the company’s favor, a court heard on the opening day of his trial on Thursday.
No current plan to announce resumption of Mideast talks: U.S.
AMMAN (Reuters) – There are no plans at the moment for an announcement on resuming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday.
ICC case against Kenyan president suffers blow as witnesses withdraw
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Two witnesses in the International Criminal Court case against Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta have withdrawn their testimony, with at least one saying he would be in danger if he testified, according to a court document published…
Pirates raid chemical tanker off Togo, injure crew
ABUJA (Reuters) – Pirates looted a chemical tanker and injured some of its crew off the coast of Togo this week, its government and a maritime agency said on Thursday, underscoring increasing threats to shipping in West African waters.
Netanyahu spokesman denies Israel open to 1967 border formula
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman denied on Thursday Israel had agreed to a formula for new talks with Palestinians based on the border of their future state being drawn along lines from before a 1967 war, with agreed …
Italy President warns against endangering government stability
ROME (Reuters) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano warned political factions on Thursday against endangering Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s fragile coalition government, which is facing its most serious threats since being formed three months ago.
West must fight Syria’s Assad if it wants to topple him: UK general
LONDON (Reuters) – The outgoing head of the British Army said on Thursday the West would need to fight a war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if it wanted to have a “material impact” on his calculations.
