White House says it will take time to rule if Mursi removal was coup
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Wednesday it will take time to determine whether the Egyptian military’s removal of President Mohamed Mursi constituted a coup, and called on the military to exercise restraint.
Luxembourg government coalition partner calls for new elections
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The junior coalition partner in the Luxembourg government led by Jean-Claude Juncker has called for new elections, after a parliamentary committee said Juncker failed to curb abuse of power by the secret service.
Syrian rebel sheikh calls for war on Assad’s Alawite heartland
AMMAN (Reuters) – An influential Islamist cleric turned rebel commander urged Syrian insurgents on Wednesday to focus their war on President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite heartland to create a “balance of terror” and help turn the tide of the conflict.
Washington vilified on both sides of Egypt’s divide
CAIRO (Reuters) – Pictures of Barack Obama have popped up all over Cairo. Some have his faced crossed out in paint. Heavy black beards are daubed onto others.
Hungary promises teachers 34 percent pay hike, with more to come
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary will raise the pay of 150,000 teachers from September by an average 34 percent and give further hikes every year until 2017, a government minister said on Wednesday.
Russia says Syrian opposition blocking peace conference
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Syrian opposition leader is undermining chances for proposed peace talks by saying that foes of President Bashar al-Assad will only attend if they make military headway first, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesda…
Berlusconi ruling shakes Italy government
ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi’s party boycotted a summit of Italy’s fragile coalition government and blocked parliamentary activity on Wednesday in protest against a supreme court decision to fast track a ruling that could ban him from public offi…
Italy investigating deportation of Kazakh oligarch’s wife
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has ordered an investigation into the deportation in May of the wife and daughter of fugitive Kazakh oligarch and dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov as questions about its legality multiply.
Pakistan president’s close aide killed in suicide attack
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – One of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s most trusted aides was killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the volatile port city of Karachi on Wednesday as he stopped his armored vehicle to buy some fruit, police said.
Former South African leader named head of U.N. Women
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations named former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to head the gender equality body U.N. Women on Wednesday, after former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet stepped down to pursue another p…
