Stephen Hawking joins 150 top scientists calling for Britain to stay in EU
LONDON (Reuters) – Stephen Hawking has joined more than 150 top scientists in calling for Britain to stay in the European Union, saying that leaving would be “a disaster for UK science and universities”.
French government says open to labor reform tweaks after street protests
PARIS (Reuters) – The French government is willing to make some tweaks to its pro-business labor reforms to ease concerns about them, Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri said on Thursday, a day after a series of street protests.
South African peace-keepers ambushed in Darfur, one killed: govt
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – One South African soldier was killed in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region and another was wounded in an ambush on a military convoy escorting humanitarian aid trucks, Pretoria said on Thursday.
Turkey EU minister: Migrants readmitted only after EU deal goes into effect – Anadolu
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A deal between Turkey and the European Union to readmit migrants does not apply to refugees already on Greek islands but to those who arrive once the agreement is in effect, Anadolu Agency quoted EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir a…
Nearly 500,000 migrants reached Greece in fourth-quarter: EU border agency
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Nearly half a million irregular migrants arrived in Greece in the last three months of 2015, most of whom then moved north through the Balkans, data from EU border agency Frontex showed on Thursday.
Iraq’s al-Sadr supporters back PM’s move for non-partisan cabinet to fight graft
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s powerful Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr wants Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to stay in power but replace his cabinet with professionals with no party affiliation so he can fight corruption, the head of the Sadrist bloc in pa…
South Korea considers approval of North Korea tuberculosis aid despite sanctions
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea is considering allowing a shipment tuberculosis medication to North Korea, a government official said on Thursday, despite newly imposed sanctions against the reclusive state for its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.
China set to introduce charity law though some unlikely to benefit
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is set to pass its first law regulating charities to shore up public confidence in a scandal-hit sector, though critics say it is unlikely to offer any protection to rights groups whose work is deemed politically sensitive.
China expresses alarm at Philippines-Japan aircraft deal
BEIJING (Reuters) – China expressed alarm on Thursday about an agreement in which the Philippines will lease five aircraft from Japan to help patrol the disputed South China Sea.
Two missing booksellers return to China hours after re-appearing in HK: report
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Two Hong Kong booksellers released from mainland Chinese custody after going missing went straight back to China after returning home to ask police to drop their missing persons cases, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.
