Venezuelan anti-corruption drive snares senior tax official
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro announced the arrest of a senior tax official on Thursday in the latest move in what he says is a concerted effort to stamp out corruption in the South American OPEC nation.
Suicide bomber kills 7 after close of Iraq polls
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed seven people at an Iraqi vote counting center on Thursday evening, police said, hours after polls closed in two Sunni Muslim-dominated provinces.
Greece to avoid financing problems if it delivers on program: IMF
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Thursday urged Greece to speedily deliver on its bailout program, adding that doing so would ensure the country encounters “no financing problems.”
Pakistan, Afghanistan trade accusations at U.N. over extremist havens
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Afghanistan and Pakistan traded accusations in the U.N. Security Council on Thursday over the whereabouts of Islamist extremists on their porous border as the United Nations described increased tensions between the neighbors …
Iraq, Lebanon alarmed at spreading Syria war
BAGHDAD/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Neighboring Iraq warned that Syria’s civil war is tearing the Middle East apart and Lebanon’s president urged his country’s Hezbollah movement on Thursday to pull its fighters out of the conflict.
Ethiopia opposition threatens protests over anti-terrorism law
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – An Ethiopian opposition party called on Thursday for the government to scrap an anti-terrorism law it says is used to stifle dissent, threatening a repeat of protests that brought thousands onto the streets of Addis Ababa early …
Montreal-area fireworks factory explodes, two dead
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Two people were killed on Thursday in a massive explosion and fire at a fireworks plant near Montreal, provincial police in Quebec said.
Guinea opposition suspends talks with government
CONAKRY (Reuters) – Guinea’s opposition parties on Thursday pulled out of U.N.-mediated election talks with the government, accusing police and youths of attacking one of their leaders and his supporters.
Turkey warns Germany as Berlin obstructs its EU path
ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Turkey warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday not to play politics with its European Union ambitions as Berlin blocked moves to open a new chapter in Ankara’s EU membership talks next week.
Israeli police question chief rabbi on graft allegations
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Police questioned one of Israel’s top religious officials, Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, on Thursday on suspicion of bribery, fraud and money laundering, a police spokesman said.
