Israel gives preliminary approval for 800 new settler homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday.
Czech parties closing on deal to hold early election
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech political parties neared agreement on Thursday on holding an early election to end a stand-off with the president that has crippled policymaking for nearly two months with the economy struggling to recover from recession.
French government’s next tax grab may strain fragile recovery
PARIS (Reuters) – A growing chorus of French businesses and consumers is warning that government plans to wring 6 billion euros more in tax out of the economy next year risk stifling a fragile recovery and could damage future growth.
Kenya to resume international flights from midnight Thursday
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya said it would reopen its main airport at midnight on Thursday after a fire on Wednesday forced the suspension of international and cargo flights, choking a vital gateway to east Africa.
Italy’s Senate approves law to ease overcrowded prisons
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament on Thursday approved measures to ease some of the worst prison overcrowding in Europe by cutting pre-trial detentions and using alternative punishments for minor offences.
Politics to fore as Egyptian rivals celebrate Eid
CAIRO (Reuters) – Bitterly divided Egyptians prayed in public and children played as they celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday on Thursday.
Assad shown unharmed after Syria rebels report attack
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian rebels said on Thursday they targeted President Bashar al-Assad’s motorcade heading to a Damascus mosque to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but state television showed him unharmed and the government denied he had been …
Nigerian policeman caught extorting money on camera is sacked
LAGOS (Reuters) – It was a crime so familiar to inhabitants of Nigeria’s corruption-ridden main metropolis that few would have batted an eyelid had the victim not managed to record the whole incident on a secret camera.
Lawyer says not allowed to represent China’s disgraced Bo Xilai
BEIJING (Reuters) – A lawyer appointed to represent disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai in his corruption case said on Thursday he has been denied permission to act on his behalf, a move likely to reinforce belief that Bo’s conviction is a foregone c…
Graveyard picnic bomb kills 14 women and children in Afghan east
KABUL (Reuters) – A bomb planted in an Afghan graveyard killed 14 women and children on Thursday, many of them picnicking at the graveside of a family member during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, officials said.
