Britain ‘concerned’ about way Zimbabwe election was organized
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said on Thursday it was concerned that Zimbabwe had not enacted important electoral reform before Wednesday’s vote in the former British colony and by reports that large numbers of voters had been turned away.
Moroccans to protest against royal pardon for Spanish pedophile
RABAT (Reuters) – Moroccans outraged by a royal pardon for a Spanish pedophile serving a 30-year sentence for raping 11 children in the North African kingdom are planning a protest in Rabat on Friday.
Babies given away live on air in Pakistani talk show
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani television is screening what many call its most controversial content yet in a ruthless quest for ratings: a talk-show host who gives away babies live on air.
Spain PM says corruption scandal has hit country’s image abroad
MADRID (Reuters) – A corruption scandal which has undermined the authority of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) has hit the country’s image abroad, the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said during an appearance in Parliament on Thursday.
Serbia woos ex-IMF head Strauss-Kahn for advisory role
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia has approached former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn about the possibility of him joining the government in an advisory role as it seeks foreign advisors to assist a revamped cabinet, a government source said.
EU lawmakers urged to back data list to track fighters to Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – Nine European Union nations urged the European Parliament on Thursday to set aside privacy concerns and back plans for an EU-wide passenger data list aimed at thwarting suspected militants travelling from Europe to fight in Syria.
Merkel coalition takes lead in poll for first time in four years
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right coalition has enough support to win a parliamentary majority in a September 22 election, the first time it has taken the lead in nearly four years, according to a new poll.
Bangladesh court rules top Islamic party illegal
DHAKA (Reuters) – A Bangladesh court on Thursday declared as illegal the country’s main Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, effectively banning it from a general election due early next year.
U.S., Pakistan agree to start new chapter in long-strained relations
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The United States and Pakistan agreed on Thursday to re-establish a “full partnership”, hoping to end years of acrimony over U.S. drone strikes on Pakistani soil, the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and other grievances.
Assad says sure he will defeat Syrian rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday he was confident of victory against rebels in a 28-month-old civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people and sent nearly two million fleeing abroad.
