In London for Hinkley signing ceremony, France’s Ayrault defends deal
LONDON (Reuters) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, in London to take part in the formal signing ceremony for the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project, said it was a good deal for Britain and France despite widespread reservations.
Germany may decide soon on smaller transport planes: defense minister
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defense minister says a decision may be made soon on acquiring smaller military transport planes to cover a serious gap in capabilities once the Transall transporter leaves service in 2021.
Philippines boxing icon Pacquiao used drugs as a teen but backs Duterte
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippines boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao says he took all kinds of drugs as a teenager but fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte, whose vicious anti-drugs campaign has led to the killing of more than 3,000 people, mostly …
Iceland’s Pirates head for power on wave of public anger
REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – A party that hangs a skull-and-crossbones flag at its HQ, and promises to clean up corruption, grant asylum to Edward Snowden and accept the bitcoin virtual currency, could be on course to form the next Icelandic government.
Colombia tipped for Nobel Peace Prize after deal to end war
OSLO (Reuters) – A Colombian peace accord ending a half-century of war is widely tipped for the Nobel Peace Prize next week, returning the award to its roots after a run of wins for organizations including the European Union.
Thousands of Belgian workers march against planned labor law changes
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Belgian workers marched through Brussels on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of a center-right government that plans to extend the working week and abandon a scheduled wage increase.
Neo-Nazi murder suspect breaks silence, rejects ideology at trial
BERLIN (Reuters) – The lone surviving suspect in a neo-Nazi murder trial that has shaken Germany said in her first remarks in court on Thursday that she had disavowed the ideology behind the crime and condemned the killing spree she is accused of being…
Ukraine reform push would pave way to support from new U.S. president: Pritzker
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine should ramp up economic and anti-corruption reforms to pave the way for continued support from whoever wins the U.S. presidential election, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said on a visit to Kiev on Thursday.
Russia says U.S. Syria statement shows Washington supports terrorism
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is outraged by the threatening tone of the latest U.S. statement on Syria, viewing it as tantamount to supporting terrorism, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday, according to Russian news agencies.
Bulgaria detains French terrorism suspect
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria has detained a French citizen suspected of links to terrorism on Paris’s request after he tried to cross into Turkey, the Bulgarian prosecutors’ office said on Thursday.
