No quick fix in sight for Egypt’s energy chaos
LONDON (Reuters) – None of the new ministers to be appointed by Egypt’s military-backed leaders faces an easy task, but perhaps special sympathy should be reserved for the brave soul who takes on the energy ministry.
Portugal president throws politics into disarray
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s president threw the bailed-out euro zone country into disarray on Thursday after rejecting a plan to heal a government rift, igniting what critics called a “time bomb” by calling for early elections next year.
Pay rise for parliamentarians angers austerity-hit Britain
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s members of parliament will get a 9 percent pay rise under a proposal announced on Thursday that outraged a public struggling with wage freezes, high living costs and a government austerity drive.
Germany’s Merkel urges Egypt to include all groups in transition
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged Egypt to return to a path of democratic transition as quickly as possible and to ensure that all political powers were included.
Latin American nations fuming over NSA spying allegations
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Irate Latin American nations are demanding explanations from the United States about new allegations that it spied on both allies and foes in the region with secret surveillance programs.
Quebec town grapples with loss in train wreck aftermath
LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec (Reuters) – Residents of the town of Lac-Megantic in Quebec were coming to grips on Thursday with the reality that 50 of their own were most likely dead in the aftermath of the worst railway disaster in North American in more than …
Vatican broadens child abuse crimes in legal reform
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican unveiled changes to its law on Thursday that name the sexual abuse of children as a specific crime and aim to implement international anti-money laundering norms as the city state seeks to end years of scandal.
Exclusive: Egypt has less than two months imported wheat left – ex-minister
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt has less than two months’ supply of imported wheat left in its stocks, ousted President Mohamed Mursi’s minister of supplies said, revealing a shortage more acute than previously disclosed.
One injured in toxic gas leak at Total refinery in France
PARIS (Reuters) – A leak of toxic gas from a Total oil refinery in northwestern France in the early hours of Thursday caused the plant to be briefly evacuated, disrupted local train services and injured one worker, Total said.
Brussels says wants a stable Portugal
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission supports Portugal’s efforts to avoid any political instability that could derail its return to normal borrowing on financial markets next year, it said on Thursday.
