The selection of the next Pope, especially at a time when the power of the Catholic Church has stalled in Europe but has increased elsewhere, will determine the geopolitical relevance of Benedict XVI's resignation.
Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party called for demonstrators to gather in central Tunis at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 to show support for the constitutional assembly, AP reported.
The European Union will cut spending for the first time in its history after cuts of 30 billion pounds ($47 billion) over the next seven years were determined Feb. 7 and 8 during overnight talks over the EU budget, Express reported.
Libya and Italy have agreed to create a joint military committee to organize military cooperation, Libyan news agency WAL reported Feb. 7, citing Feb. 6 talks between the countries' defense ministers and other military officers.
Ukraine plans to begin importing natural gas from Europe, through Hungary and Slovakia, in the first quarter of 2013, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavitski said Feb. 7, Interfax reported.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah must be held accountable for a bomb attack on buses carrying Israeli citizens in Bulgaria in July 2012, a top U.S. security adviser said Feb. 5, Reuters reported.
