Abbas delays decision on renewing peace talks with Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian leaders put off a decision on Thursday about restarting peace talks with Israel, with most saying Israel must first meet their terms before negotiations can start, a Palestinian official said.
Bulgaria says clear signs Hezbollah behind Burgas bombing
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria has no doubts that the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah was behind a bus bombing that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian driver at the Black Sea city of Burgas exactly a year ago, the interior minister said on Thur…
World pays tribute as ‘improving’ Mandela turns 95
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa and the world showered tributes on Nelson Mandela on Thursday as the anti-apartheid leader turned 95 in hospital and his doctors reported he was “steadily improving” from a six-week lung infection.
UAE transferred $3 billion in aid to Egypt, Saudi to follow shortly
CAIRO (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has transferred $3 billion in promised aid to Egypt and another $2 billion from Saudi Arabia will arrive shortly, Egypt’s central bank governor told the state newspaper al-Ahram on Thursday.
Italy’s center left to back minister in no confidence vote
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center-left Democratic Party agreed on Thursday to back its center-right coalition partner’s interior minister in a no confidence vote, heading off a potential crisis for Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s fragile government.
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe lashes out at ‘insane’ Washington
CHINHOYI, Zimbabwe (Reuters) – Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe branded the United States “absolutely insane” on Thursday for voicing concerns about a July 31 election, although neighboring South Africa joined Washington in criticizing chaotic preparat…
New Pakistan government vows to rescue ailing power sector
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s new energy minister promised on Thursday to fix the country’s ailing energy sector in three years, laying out an ambitious plan to tackle crippling power shortages that have devastated the economy and sparked violent pr…
Concordia captain’s lawyers seek new expert survey of ship hulk
GROSSETO, Italy (Reuters) – Lawyers for Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner that capsized off Italy’s coast killing 32 people, called on Thursday for a new expert survey of the ship’s wreck to clarify exactly what caused th…
Spanish doctors kidnapped in Kenya freed in Somalia
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Two Spanish doctors kidnapped while working at a refugee camp in eastern Kenya in October 2011, Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut, have been freed in Somalia, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia to transfer $2 billion shortly, Egypt says
CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia will transfer $2 billion in promised aid to Egypt within the next few days, Egypt’s central bank governor told the state newspaper al-Ahram on Thursday.
