Rwanda dismisses U.S. charges it backs Congo rebels
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Rwanda dismissed on Tuesday U.S. charges that it was supporting M23 rebels in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and said leveling accusations would not help pacify the region.
Kuwait’s ruler pardons people convicted of insulting him
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwait’s ruler said on Tuesday he was pardoning all the people convicted of insulting him, after a year-long crackdown on politically sensitive comments about Gulf Arab state’s leadership.
Italy’s top court hears crucial Berlusconi appeal
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s supreme court on Tuesday began hearing Silvio Berlusconi’s last appeal against a jail sentence and ban from public office in a case which could endanger the country’s shaky coalition government if the conviction is confirmed.
Spanish train driver was on the phone at time of crash
MADRID (Reuters) – The driver of the train that derailed in northwestern Spain last week, killing 79 people, was talking on the phone with state train operator Renfe at the time of the accident, a court said on Tuesday after analyzing the train’s data …
Gazan in Israeli custody was abducted in Egypt, Palestinians say
GAZA (Reuters) – The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank released a report on Tuesday quoting a Palestinian held by Israel as saying he had been snatched while visiting Egypt’s Sinai region last month.
North African instability a concern for NATO: military chief
MONS, Belgium (Reuters) – Instability in north Africa is a concern for NATO which is keeping a close eye on events in Egypt and its neighbors, NATO’s top military commander said on Tuesday.
NATO commander hopes for post-2014 Afghan plan by late this year
MONS, Belgium (Reuters) – NATO hopes to deliver a detailed operations plan for its smaller post-2014 mission in Afghanistan, including numbers of soldiers involved, by late this year, NATO’s new top military commander said on Tuesday.
Italy prosecutor asks top court to reduce Berlusconi ban
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian public prosecutor on Tuesday asked the country’s top court to reduce former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s ban from public office for tax fraud to 3 years from 5, but to confirm a one year prison term.
Serbian PM moves to oust finance minister, risking election
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic moved to oust his finance minister on Tuesday, rattling the year-old coalition and risking a snap election that would almost certainly delay talks on joining the European Union.
Union, rather than army, may be Tunisia opposition’s decisive ally
TUNIS (Reuters) – More than any threat of military force, the power of Tunisia’s main trade union may be what pushes the Islamist-led government to accept opposition demands for it to quit.
