Israel approves more East Jerusalem housing before Kerry talks
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Wednesday authorized construction of 69 housing units in a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem, a decision that may upset U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s push to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Ireland agrees compensation for Magdalene Laundries survivors
DUBLIN (Reuters) – The Irish government has agreed to pay up 58 million euros ($75 million) to hundreds of women forced to work at the Catholic Church’s notorious Magdalene Laundries after a report found that a quarter of them were sent there by the Ir…
French court upholds life term for Carlos the Jackal
PARIS (Reuters) – Carlos the Jackal, once one of the world’s most wanted criminals, lost his appeal of a guilty verdict for deadly bomb attacks in France three decades ago, as a Paris court on Wednesday reaffirmed a life sentence in prison.
Albanian leader concedes defeat, soothes fears of poll dispute
TIRANA (Reuters) – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha conceded defeat on Wednesday after losing a parliamentary election at the weekend, ending three days of public silence and soothing fears of a messy handover of power in the volatile NATO country….
Three Madagascar candidates could face sanctions over vote row
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The European Union, the United States and the African Union proposed on Wednesday imposing sanctions such as travel bans on Madagascar’s president and two other presidential candidates unless they withdrew from a planned electio…
Car bomb kills army intelligence officer in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – A Libyan military intelligence officer was killed when a bomb exploded in his car on Wednesday in the latest attack on security forces in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said.
NATO head urges Georgia to hold democratic presidential race
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia must ensure presidential elections in October satisfy democratic standards, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday told Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili who is locked in a bitter political dispute with the outgoing p…
Prominent militant arrested in blow to Somali Islamists
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – One of Somalia’s most prominent Islamist rebel commanders has been arrested and is in the hands of a regional administration, local and government officials said on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the country’s al Shabaab insurgents….
Italy government coalition averts split over F-35 jet purchase
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s ruling coalition averted a split over a motion to scrap its purchase of 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets on Wednesday by agreeing to seek parliament’s approval before going ahead with further spending on the program.
New emir: Qatar will pursue its ‘independent behavior’
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar’s new emir said on Wednesday the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state would not “take direction” from anyone, in an accession speech suggesting the young leader would pursue the assertive, independent-minded foreign policy pioneered by hi…
