Kenya government makes partial U-turn on new tax after protests
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya has proposed exempting staples maize and bread from taxes under a proposed law that has fanned widespread discontent but consumer groups say the concession is not enough.
Egypt appeal court orders PM jailed, dismissed: source
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian appeals court upheld a one-year prison sentence against Prime Minister Hisham Kandil on Wednesday and ordered him to be removed from his post, a judicial source said.
Libya promises to break militias as ministry held for second day
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s government is drawing up plans to disband militias who have plagued the capital since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, the justice minister said as an armed group occupied the interior ministry for a second day.
South Africa’s NUM says to give De Beers strike notice
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers is giving diamond producer De Beers, a unit of Anglo American, a 48-hour strike notice after mediation failed to resolve a wage dispute, NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni told Reute…
Guinea government, opposition agree to end-September election
CONAKRY (Reuters) – The Guinean government and opposition parties have reached an agreement to hold long-delayed legislative elections at the end of September to complete the mineral-rich nation’s transition to civilian rule, sources involved in the ta…
Egypt army, opposition meeting over, statement soon: army
CAIRO (Reuters) – A meeting between the head of the Egyptian armed forces, liberal opposition leaders and senior Muslim and Christian clerics, has ended and a statement will be issued within the hour, the armed forces said in a statement on Facebook on…
U.S. says it is ‘very concerned’ about unrest in Egypt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is “very concerned” about the situation in Egypt, the State Department said on Wednesday of the sweeping protests surrounding a stand-off between Egypt’s armed forces and Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
Portugal CDS-PP party ready to negotiate with government
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s rightist CDS-PP junior coalition party will meet with the governing Social Democrats to find a way to guarantee a viable government, Luis Queiro, a senior member of the CDS-PP and the chairman of the party’s congress, said…
Clerics, opposition to unveil Egypt roadmap: MENA
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s leading Muslim and Christian clerics and the leader of the liberal opposition alliance Mohamed ElBaradei will jointly present a roadmap for a political transition shortly, state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
Russia’s Putin signs law banning gay adoptions
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Wednesday banning the adoption of children by same-sex couples, as part of an increasingly conservative agenda the Kremlin is pursuing since his return to power.
