Israel launches Palestinians-only buses

Two Palestinians-only bus lines were launched by Israel at the beginning of the week (photo AFP)

Two Palestinians-only bus lines have been launched by Israel in the occupied West Bank, a move described as racist by an Israeli rights group.

The Transport Ministry said it was an improvement in service.

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Presidential elections on April 14 in Venezuela

Thousands gathered in Caracas on Wednesday, as Hugo Chavez’s coffin made his way to the military academy (photo Reuters)

Following Venezuelan leader’s death on March 5 after a long battle with cancer, the country’s electoral commission has announced that the presidential election to name his successor will take place on April 14.

The campaigning period will go from April 2 to April 11, the electoral commission also said.

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Controversial new treason law in Russia

A few days after promising to review treason law, Russian president Vladimir Putin (photo, from dailymail.co.uk) has signed it. The law which expands the definition of treason went into effect on Wednesday.

According to critics this new law may be used to stifle dissent.

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Egypt reopens one of the pyramids to tourists

The Pyramid of Chefren (Khafre) has been reopened, as Egypt tries to revive its tourism industry, badly hit by last year’s uprising.

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Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union

The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel committee which argued that the EU had helped transform Europe “from the continent of war to a continent of peace”.

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Thousands gather for anti-Putin rally in Moscow

The first major protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin in three months took place on Saturday in Moscow. (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters have marched through the capital to say that December’s parliamentary elections were fraudulent and dispute Mr Putin’s re-election in March.

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Wisconsin anti-union law thrown out by judge

A controversial law that has been in effect for more than a year has been thrown out by a judge in the state of Wisconsin.

US Republican Governor Scott Walker supported this law which strips most public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

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