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Italy's Berlusconi in tax fraud scheme as PM, judges say

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:12:42 +0100

MILAN (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was involved in a tax fraud scheme while he was head of government, a Milan court said in a document released on Thursday explaining its earlier decision to uphold his four-year conviction. Berlusconi's mounting legal difficulties have created tension in Italy's fragile coalition government, over which he has veto power, and the tax fraud case is nearing its final appeal with a definitive judgment possible within a year. ...

Cameron says London attack was betrayal of Islam

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:33:24 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron said the brutal killing of a soldier who was hacked to death in London by two men shouting Jihadist slogans was a betrayal of Islam. "We will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms," Cameron told reporters outside his Downing Street residence on Thursday. "This was not just an attack on Britain and on the British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam and of the Muslim communities who give so much to our country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act. ...

Cameron says will never give in to terror

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:33:24 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday the country would remain resolute in its opposition to terrorism after two men hacked to death a soldier in south London. "This country will be absolutely resolute in its stand against violent extremism and terror," he said, on the steps of his 10 Downing Street residence. "We will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms." (Reporting by Kate Holton)

Italy aims to cut labour taxes in first 100 days - Saccomanni

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:37:45 +0100

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government plans to cut labour taxes within a few months, funding the measure by reducing public spending, Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni said on Thursday. "The government plans to in the first 100 days to start cutting taxes on houses and jobs, funding it with spending cuts and measures to fight tax evasion," Saccomanni said at a news conference in Rome. "This is the programme, we'll see how long we have to carry it out," Saccomanni said, in a reference to how long Prime Minister Enrico Letta's fragile left-right coalition might last. ...

Woolwich Terror: Cameron Calls For Unity

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:54:16 +0100

David Cameron has insisted the UK will not be divided by the horrific murder of a serving British soldier on the streets of London.

Ally of Kosovo PM among five arrested for war crimes

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:50:37 +0100

PRISTINA (Reuters) - A close wartime ally of Kosovo's prime minister was among five people arrested by European Union police on Thursday on suspicion of war crimes during a 1998-99 insurgency against Serbian forces. The EU police and justice mission in Kosovo, EULEX, did not release the names of those arrested, but a lawyer for Sami Lushtaku, mayor of the town of Skenderaj, said his client was among them and would appear in court on Friday. ...

Dutch to cut up to 12 percent of civil service jobs in five years

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:40:07 +0100

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Job cuts in the Dutch civil service will go deeper than initially planned, affecting up to one in eight employees over the next five years as the Netherlands pushes ahead with austerity measures. Prime Minister Mark Rutte, re-elected in September, has had to cut billions of euros from the budget to bring the deficit down, although it is still expected to exceed the European Union's target of 3 percent of economic output this year and possibly next. ...

Prosecutor in Berlusconi sex trial receives mail with bullets

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:31:34 +0100

MILAN (Reuters) - The prosecutor in former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's sex trial has received a series of anonymous letters of threats, including one with two bullets, Milan's chief prosecutor said on Thursday. The letters against Ilda Boccassini have become more frequent since she requested a six-year jail sentence and a lifetime ban on holding public office for Berlusconi, Edmondo Bruti Liberati said. ...

Assad foe tells Syrian leader to cede power to officials

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:48:30 +0100

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian opposition leader urged President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday to hand power to his deputy or his prime minister and then go abroad with 500 members of his entourage, without immunity from prosecution. Assad is likely to reject or ignore the 16-point peace plan proposed by Moaz Alkhatib, who resigned as head of the Western-backed opposition National Coalition in March, particularly given recent military gains by his forces against rebels. ...

Ukraine PM acts to patch up relations with media after clash

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:39:55 +0100

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov backed down on Thursday from his order to revoke the official accreditation of a dozen local reporters after they displayed slogans at a cabinet meeting to protest against an attack on two colleagues. The dour 65-year-old reacted sharply on Wednesday when the reporters displayed slogans demanding an investigation into the beating of two reporters at a political rally last Saturday. ...

Cameron steadies the ship: 'No knee jerk response' to Woolwich terror

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:29:11 +0100

David Cameron quashed rumours of a possible revival of the snoopers' charter today, after he told reporters there would be no "knee-jerk" response to the suspected terror attack in Woolwich.

PM praises British Muslims amid fears of anti-Islam violence

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:19:59 +0100

David Cameron has insisted yesterday's killing in Woolwich was a betrayal of Islam, amid concerns about a wave of anti-Muslim violence.

Portuguese leaders build faith in bailout exit

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:07:40 +0100

By Andrei Khalip LISBON (Reuters) - President Anibal Cavaco Silva thanked Portugal's patron saint for a long-delayed approval of Lisbon's bailout review last week, but the head of state could claim a share of the credit for himself. The conservative president's role has grown far beyond his figurehead status in the past few weeks. With the president on his side, Prime Minister Passos Coelho appears immune to opposition calls for an early election, despite a teetering coalition, record-low popularity in opinion polls and protests and strikes promised for late May and June. ...

Woolwich: Terrorists Will Never Win - Cameron

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:41:51 +0100

David Cameron says Britain has faced terror attacks such as the one in Woolwich before and has always beaten them back.

IMF urges UK to spend more to fund investment

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:13:45 +0100

By William Schomberg and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government should spend more now to fund investment and steer its economy back to recovery, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, a call unlikely to be heeded by Chancellor George Osborne. Economic data earlier on Wednesday highlighted the challenge facing Osborne. Retail sales slumped last month while a measure of public borrowing jumped to a record high. ...

Serbia, Kosovo agree way forward on plan to normalise ties

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:18:26 +0100

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Serbia and Kosovo agreed in principle on Wednesday on a plan to implement an historic accord to settle their relations, a step that strengthens Serbia's chances of getting the go-ahead next month to start talks on joining the European Union. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and his Kosovo counterpart, Hashim Thaci, reached the draft agreement in two days of talks in Brussels, chaired by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. ...

UK 'will never buckle over terror'

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:20 +0100

Britain will "never buckle" in the face of terrorist incidents, David Cameron vowed, as he condemned the "absolutely sickening" killing of a man in a street in London.

Indications suggest London killing was terror-related - Cameron

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:35:51 +0100

PARIS (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that there were "strong indications" that a killing in London was terror-related. "It is the most appalling crime," Cameron said, before cutting short a visit to Paris. "The police are urgently seeking the full facts about this case but there are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident." (Writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn)

EU leaders pursue shale gas dream in Brussels talks

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:55:21 +0100

By Barbara Lewis and Peter Griffiths BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders discussed the region's reserves of shale gas at a summit on Wednesday, but the prospect of the continent enjoying a U.S.-style shale boom that drastically cuts energy costs remains elusive. Arriving at the summit, British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose government is advancing plans to exploit his country's shale gas deposits, said Europe could not afford to be left behind as the world scrambles to develop the resource. ...

Miliband says Google tax behaviour 'wrong'

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:34:48 +0100

By Andrew Osborn and Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) - Google Inc's tax affairs came under renewed scrutiny in Britain on Wednesday when the leader of the opposition Labour party accused the Internet company of wrongly going to "extraordinary lengths" to avoid paying tax. In comments designed to politically outflank Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of next month's G8 summit on what has become a high-profile issue, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said he was disappointed that Google paid so little tax. "I can't be the only person here who feels disappointed that such a great company as Google ...

Britain offers visas to its Afghan interpreters

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:15:36 +0100

By Mark Anderson LONDON (Reuters) - Around 600 interpreters who serve alongside British soldiers in Afghanistan are to be offered visas to live in the UK, in a softening of the government's previous policy of encouraging them to stay in the country after British troops withdraw. But limits attached to the offer have drawn fire from human rights activists and even from Prime Minister David Cameron's own party. ...

Turkey prosecutor seeks life sentences for generals over coup - TV

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:25:41 +0100

ANKARA (Reuters) - More than 100 senior Turkish army officers face prosecution demands they spend the rest of their lives in jail for their alleged role in toppling Turkey's first Islamist-led government 16 years ago, a Turkish TV channel reported on Wednesday. The investigation into former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan's 1997 ouster is the latest in a series of judicial cases targeting the once all-powerful Turkish military, whose influence has been curbed sharply in the last decade. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, in power for the last 10 years, was a member of Erbakan's Islamist party. ...

Ukraine PM bars reporters from government meetings after protest

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:23:33 +0100

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov ordered a dozen local reporters to be barred from covering government meetings after they staged a protest on Wednesday over attacks on journalists at a rally. When reporters at the cabinet meeting stepped in front of television cameras and turned their backs, emblazoned with slogans, on Azarov and his colleagues, the prime minister reacted sharply. "What kind of show is this?" he said. ...

Somali lawmakers withdraw confidence vote against PM

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:07:57 +0100

By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali members of parliament shelved a vote of confidence against the prime minister on Wednesday, but warned the government it would face further parliamentary rebellions if it did not do more to improve the economy and security. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has led a cabinet, in place since the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year, that has been lauded for bringing Somalia back into the international fold after two decades of conflict and civil war. But many want faster changes on the ground. ...

UK 'still a long way from recovery'

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:06 +0100

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has put pressure on George Osborne to change economic course in a critical assessment of the state of the British economy.

UK coalition to last despite rifts, infighting - deputy PM

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:22 +0100

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's deputy prime minister on Wednesday took the unusual step of holding a news conference to say the country's two-party coalition would hold together until 2015 as he tried to stabilise a government beset by infighting and rifts. In a move that risks being cast as a sign of weakness by political opponents, Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the coalition, sought to reassure voters that his alliance with Prime Minister David Cameron would endure until the next national election. ...

Cameron Warns Rebels: I Won't Budge on Europe

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:10:49 +0100

David Cameron has warned Tory eurosceptics he will not be bullied into changing his policy on Europe and holding an earlier in-out referendum.

Sweden's capital hit by worst riots in years

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:47:29 +0100

By Johan Sennero and Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Hundreds of youths have set fire to cars and attacked police and rescue services in poor immigrant suburbs in three nights of rioting in Stockholm, Sweden's worst disorder in years. On Tuesday night, a police station in the Jakobsberg area in the northwest of the city was attacked, two schools were damaged and an arts and crafts centre was set ablaze, despite a call for calm from Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. ...

Clegg gives Tory backbenchers both barrels

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:44:21 +0100

Nick Clegg railed against Conservative backbenchers this morning, in a speech which saw him demand that David Cameron stop buckling to their demands and "get back to governing".

Turkey eyes oil, gas deals with Iraqi Kurdistan

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:28:33 +0100

By Orhan Coskun ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is looking to sign commercial contracts this year with Russian and U.S. companies operating in northern Iraq for joint oil and gas exploration, Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week discussed U.S. concerns about Turkey's deepening energy ties with Iraqi Kurdistan during meetings in Washington with President Barack Obama. Minutes before his departure for Washington, Erdogan announced that a Turkish company already had a contract in place with U.S. ...

Cameron 'proud' of gay bill but economy now focus

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:14:25 +0100

David Cameron said Wednesday he was proud MPs had voted to back gay marriage but admitted the debate has been divisive and said his focus would now be on economic matters.

Cameron tribute to party grassroots

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:32:22 +0100

David Cameron has continued to reach out to his party's grassroots, insisting "I feel I am one of them" in the wake of the damaging claims an ally had sneered at activists.

Coalition stays together, says PM

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:28:39 +0100

David Cameron has insisted it is his intention to keep the coalition together until the 2015 general election.

PM 'proud' of gay marriage Bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:26:31 +0100

David Cameron has insisted he was proud of legislation to introduce gay marriage, despite a Commons rebellion which saw 130 of his own MPs oppose the change on Tuesday night.

No more funny business, Cameron promises revolting Tories

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:54:41 +0100

David Cameron has promised his party he will be "absolutely focused" on the coalition's core issues for the remainder of this parliament, in his latest attempt to reconnect with his divided and fractious party grassroots.

Act on tax avoidance, urges Cameron

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:33:27 +0100

David Cameron is to step up the campaign against tax evasion and "aggressive" tax avoidance as Apple joins multinational corporations in the spotlight.

Japan considers resuming talks with North Korea - media

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:52:54 +0100

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has started looking into resuming inter-governmental talks with North Korea after a surprise visit to Pyongyang by an aide to Japan's prime minister, the Asahi Shimbun and other newspapers said on Wednesday. Such talks, intended to discuss North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago and other issues, were last held in November 2012, but have been halted due to the North's missile launch in December and nuclear test in February. ...

Coalition to last despite rifts, infighting - Clegg

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:42:45 +0100

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - Deputy prime minister will take the unusual step of holding a news conference on Wednesday to say the country's two-party coalition will hold together until 2015 as he tries to stabilise a government beset by infighting and rifts. In a demarche that risks being cast as a sign of weakness by political opponents, Nick Clegg, the leader of the Lib Dems, will try to reassure voters that his alliance with Prime Minister David Cameron will endure until the next national election. ...

Gay marriage plan backed by MPs

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:29:39 +0100

The Government's plans to legalise gay marriage have cleared the House of Commons despite more Tory MPs voting against the proposals than voting in favour of them.

Britain's gay marriage bill passes major hurdle

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:24:41 +0100

A bill to legalise gay marriage in Britain passed a crucial hurdle in parliament on Tuesday, despite efforts by lawmakers from Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party to wreck the plans.