With eye on elections, India launches giant cheap food program
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Indian government launched a $22 billion welfare program on Wednesday to give cheap food to hundreds of millions of people, a center-piece of the ruling Congress party’s plan to win a third term in office in elections due by M…
Egyptian army secures state TV studios: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian troops with armored vehicles have secured the central Cairo studios of state television on Wednesday, security sources said.
South American leaders to meet on Bolivian plane diversion
GENEVA (Reuters) – Latin American presidents plan an emergency meeting on Wednesday over the diversion to Austria of a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales, the Bolivian ambassador to the United Nations said.
Muslim Brotherhood party refuses to meet Egypt army chief
CAIRO (Reuters) – The political wing of Egypt’s ruling Muslim Brotherhood refused an invitation to meet the armed forces commander on Wednesday, hours before an army deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to mass protests or quit, milit…
Migrant boat intercepted off Lampedusa ahead of pope’s visit
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian navy intercepted an overcrowded boat off Lampedusa on Wednesday ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to the tiny Sicilian island hard bearing the brunt of a migrant wave that has hit southern Europe in recent years.
Ecuador says it found a hidden microphone at its London embassy
LONDON (Reuters) – Ecuador has found a hidden microphone inside its London embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living, and will disclose on Wednesday who controls the device, its foreign minister said.
Embassies, businessmen, workers welcome extended Saudi amnesty
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi businessmen, expatriates and several countries welcomed a four-month extension to an amnesty for foreign workers with visa violations on Wednesday, saying it allowed businesses to operate as usual in the world’s top oil exporte…
Egypt opposition, religious leaders meet army chief: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei met army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday hours before an army deadline for Islamist President Mohamed Mursi to yield to mass protests or quit, two political sources …
Saudi Grand Mufti urges Egyptians to avoid bloodshed
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, urged Egyptians on Wednesday to cooperate in order to avoid bloodshed as an army deadline nears to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Portugal president calls crisis talks as government teeters
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s president summoned main political parties for crisis talks over the government’s future with markets reeling on fears that a snap election could derail Lisbon’s exit from an international bailout.
