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Bulgarian Socialists given mandate to form government

Bulgaria's president gave Thursday the Socialists a mandate to put together a government after the winner of this month's elections, conservative ex-premier Boyko Borisov, conceded forming a cabinet was impossible. Borisov's GERB party fell way short of a majority in the May 12 election, held three months after anti-poverty and corruption protests in the European Union's poorest country prompted the former bodyguard's resignation.

Hungary ruling party slams 'biased' Amnesty report

Hungary's governing party slammed Thursday a new report by rights group Amnesty International that sharply criticised recent legislation and the treatment of minorities, calling it "distorted and biased". Peter Hoppal, a spokesman for Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing Fidesz party, said that the London-based watchdog's annual report published Wednesday "painted a particularly distorted and biased picture of the country".

France's Hollande says Europe must prioritize creating jobs

LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Europe must prioritize creating jobs and hope for its youth, French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday at an event in Germany celebrating the 150th anniversary of the German opposition Social Democrat (SPD) party. "Europe has been able to overcome financial instability, it has proven that no European member state would be left alone in difficult times," the Socialist president told German and European leaders gathered at an event in Leipzig in formerly communist eastern Germany.

Hollande, Merkel to mark 150 years of German centre-left

Germany's opposition Social Democrats mark their 150th birthday Thursday, with French President Francois Hollande as the only foreign speaker and conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in the audience. The French Socialist president will give the keynote address at the anniversary celebrations of his centre-left allies, who are battling poor poll ratings as they try to unseat Merkel in September 22 elections.

Georgia denies bail to former PM ahead of graft trial

A court in Georgia on Wednesday refused to free on bail former prime minister Vano Merabishvili, one of the top allies of President Mikheil Saakashvili, but released another senior ex-official ahead of their trial on graft charges, local media and lawmakers said. A judge in Georgia's second largest city Kutaisi remanded Merabishvili in custody until his trial while ordering former health minister Zurab Chiaberashvili be released on a bail of just over $12,000, Georgia's InterPress news agency reported.

EU sets end-2013 deadline for automatic bank data sharing

EU leaders agreed Wednesday that the automatic sharing of individuals' bank account data, a key measure to prevent tax evasion, should become law across all member states by the end of the year, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy said. At the close of a one-day summit, final conclusions flagged by Van Rompuy at a press conference called on member states to complete adoption of regulation covering private savings aimed at ending bank secrecy.

Turkey prosecutor seeks life sentences for generals over coup: TV

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.

Britain's gay marriage bill passes major hurdle

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. Members of the House of Commons voted by 366 to 161 in favour of the same sex marriage bill, a majority of 205, and it will now go to the unelected House of Lords for consideration. There was applause as the result was read out, although the bill is likely to face stiff opposition when it is debated in the Lords next month, especially from the bishops.

Georgia arrests former PM on graft charges

Georgian authorities have detained former prime minister Vano Merabishvili on corruption charges, the most prominent figure to be arrested yet in a slew of investigations against top allies of President Mikheil Saakashvili, prosecutors said Tuesday. Prosecutors in the region of Georgia's second largest city Kutaisi said that Merabishvili and former health minister Zurab Chiaberashvili were being held in a case involving the alleged fictitious employment of party workers.

Britain's gay marriage bill set to pass major hurdle

A bill to legalise gay marriage in Britain was set to pass a crucial hurdle in parliament on Tuesday, after Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to strike a last-minute deal with the opposition to stop members of his own party wrecking the plans. Lawmakers in the lower House of Commons were expected to approve the bill following a marathon debate on Monday, which saw Cameron join forces with Labour to defeat a "wrecking amendment" backed by dozens of rebellious right-wingers from his Conservative party.
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