EU’s Ashton floats plan to break Hezbollah deadlock
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union could blacklist Hezbollah’s military wing while stressing it is open to talking to the militant Lebanese movement’s political faction, under a proposal by the EU’s foreign policy chief, EU diplomats said on Wedne…
Mali peace broker pulls out of presidential election race
BAMAKO (Reuters) – The architect of a peace deal between Mali’s government and northern separatist rebels pulled out of this month’s presidential election on Wednesday after failing to have the July 28 vote postponed.
Queen Elizabeth hopes baby comes soon as she’s off on holiday
LONDON (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth joined the band of increasingly impatient royal baby watchers hoping Prince William and his wife Kate’s first child arrives soon, saying she is due to go on holiday.
Fighting in South Sudan cuts off 100,000 people from aid
JUBA (Reuters) – Fighting between government forces, rebels and rival tribes has cut off 100,000 people from urgently needed food and medical aid in South Sudan’s east, U.N. and aid officials said on Wednesday.
Chinese position forced suspension of tech trade talks: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top U.S. trade official on Wednesday said talks aimed at cutting tariffs on a new generation of technology products have been suspended because of China’s demand to exclude more than 100 products from the tariff cuts.
France urges Myanmar leader to investigate anti-Muslim violence
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande pressed Myanmar’s president on Wednesday to investigate violence against the country’s Muslim minority in depth, and said a pledge to release political prisoners must be followed by action.
Libyan minority groups say will boycott constitution vote
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Three Libyan ethnic minorities announced on Wednesday they would boycott an election of a committee to draft a new constitution, the first blow to a democratic process supposed to decide what political system the country will adopt….
Pirelli head found guilty of receiving stolen data
MILAN (Reuters) – The chairman of tyre maker Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, was handed a 20-month suspended jail sentence on Wednesday for receiving stolen information when he was head of Telecom Italia.
Egypt’s Brotherhood says EU has no offer for crisis
CAIRO (Reuters) – A senior figure in ousted President Mohamed Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood met the European Union’s foreign affairs chief in Cairo on Wednesday and said Brussels had offered no proposal that could resolve Egypt’s political crisis.
EU urges Ethiopia to release journalists, revise terror law
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A European Union parliamentary delegation urged Ethiopia on Wednesday to release journalists and opposition politicians jailed under an anti-terror law, and revise the legislation that critics say is used to stifle dissent.
