France sets Middle East peace conference for June 3
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – An international conference due in Paris to help relaunch peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis will go ahead on June 3, allowing the United States to attend, France’s foreign minister said on Thursday.
Brazil’s ousted House speaker flexes muscle, faces ethics panel
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s suspended House speaker, Eduardo Cunha, defended himself before an ethics committee on Thursday, a day after the appointment of his ally as leader of the government coalition in the chamber showed the veteran lawmaker’s en…
Support for Merkel’s party drops to lowest since Oct. 2011: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party fell to its lowest level in four and a half years, a poll showed on Thursday, in a sign voters are still upset despite a recent drop in new migrant arrivals.
Spain bans killing in controversial bull-lancing festival
MADRID (Reuters) – A bull-lancing festival known as “Toro de la Vega” (Bull of the Plain) which has spurred controversy in Spain will take place as usual in September but participants will no longer be allowed to kill the bull, Spanish authorities rule…
Kenya government urges critics not to protest over electoral body
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s government called on its opponents on Thursday not to stage street protests against an electoral oversight commission that they accuse of bias, after three demonstrations in less than a month led to clashes with police.
Argentine lawmakers pass bill to stop layoffs; Macri veto awaits
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s opposition-controlled lower chamber of Congress on Thursday passed a bill to prevent layoffs in the public and private sectors, challenging the center-right government’s efforts to cut a gaping fiscal deficit and sp…
EU seen on track to extend economic sanctions on Russia: sources
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is on track to renew economic sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine when they expire in July, though an extension could be contested and only short-term, diplomats and officials said.
Gazans feel borders closing in as exit options diminish
GAZA (Reuters) – Abu Abdallah, the owner of a women’s fashion store in Gaza, traveled to Jordan seven times last year so he could fly on to Turkey and Egypt looking for new stock. This year, he has not been allowed out of the fenced-in strip once.
Turkey to miss end-June deadline for EU visa-free travel: sources
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is set to miss an end-June deadline to grant visa-free travel to Turkey because of a dispute over Turkish anti-terrorism law, barring an improbable sudden concession by President Tayyip Erdogan, EU officials and …
In the Philippines, faith becomes a driving force against coal
BATANGAS, Philippines (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The Muslim cleric from the city of Batangas walked up to Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and held out his hand. “I am Imam Abdul Karim,” he said, introducing himself. “I want to join you in your fight aga…
