Iraq receives ex-trade minister convicted on graft charges from Lebanon
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi authorities on Thursday took into custody a former trade minister convicted in absentia for corruption cases, following his extradition from Lebanon, Iraq’s corruption watchdog said in a statement.
Pro-EU academic aims to unseat anti-immigrant Czech president in run-off
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Pro-EU academic Jiri Drahos is seeking to unseat anti-immigration political veteran Milos Zeman, who has sought closer relations with Russia and China, in a tight run-off of the Czech presidential election starting on Friday.
Brazil court approves seizure of Lula’s passport
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian court on Thursday approved the seizure of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s passport, the Justice Ministry said, after an appeals court upheld the corruption conviction of the left-wing hero.
Homeless in Hong Kong: soaring costs fuel housing crisis in Asian financial hub
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Cheung Muk-gun’s home is an illegal, wooden shack under a highway in one of the poorest areas of Hong Kong, where sky-high property prices and a yawning wealth gap have helped fuel a surge in homelessness.
The final straight: party leaders launch German coalition talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives open coalition talks with their Social Democrat (SPD) partners on Friday, four months after the September election that left Europe’s largest economy in an unprecedented state of politi…
Brazil court approves seizure of Lula’s passport: source
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian court has approved the seizure of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s passport, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday, a day after an appeals court upheld the corruption conviction of the left-wing hero.
Exclusive: Despite sanctions, North Korea exported coal to South and Japan via Russia-intelligence sources
PARIS/LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) – North Korea shipped coal to Russia last year which was then delivered to South Korea and Japan in a likely violation of U.N. sanctions, three Western European intelligence sources said.
Offering brighter future, UK’s Davis tries to convince on EU transition
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will only replicate the “effects” of the EU’s customs union during a transition to a future relationship when the government will sign its own trade deals for the first time in 40 years, Brexit minister David Davis will say o…
Venezuelan opposition, government to meet for another round of talks
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Members of Venezuela’s leftist government and opposition leaders will meet next week for another round of talks in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican foreign ministry announced on Thursday.
Dutch intelligence agency spied on Russian hacking group: media
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch intelligence agency AIVD spied on the Russian group believed to be behind the hack of the Democratic Party ahead of U.S. elections, local media reported on Thursday.
