Burkina Faso’s transitional government to review mine permits
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso’s transitional government will review some mine contracts signed under former President Blaise Compaore, responding to concerns that exploration permits were granted in opaque conditions, new mines minister Colonel …
Majority of Russians believe their troops are not fighting in Ukraine: poll
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A majority of Russians believe their country’s troops are not fighting in eastern Ukraine but nearly half would be glad if it turned out they were, an opinion poll showed on Thursday.
South Asia summit salvaged after handshake by leaders of India, Pakistan
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – A brief meeting between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart on Thursday salvaged a summit of South Asian leaders, with all eight countries clinching a last-minute deal to create a regional electricit…
Prince William to make first UK royal visit to China in 30 years
LONDON (Reuters) – Prince William will go to China early next year in the first visit to the mainland by a member of the British royal family in almost three decades, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.
Hong Kong student leaders banned from Mong Kok protest site
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Two Hong Kong student leaders were banned from a large area in Mong Kok as a condition of bail on Thursday after they were arrested during scuffles as police cleared one of the largest protest sites that have choked the city for w…
Ten dead in disputed Kashmir’s worst militant attack in more than a year
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Gunmen wearing army uniforms on Thursday attacked an Indian army base near the border with Pakistan, leaving ten people dead in the worst militant violence in the disputed state of Kashmir in more than a year.
Rajoy denies Spain is corrupt after minister resigns in graft case
MADRID (Reuters) – Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appealed to Spaniards on Thursday not to regard their politicians as corrupt, after a minister became the first government casualty in a series of cases of alleged graft.
Portugal’s detained ex-PM Socrates rejects ‘absurd’ corruption charges
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s former prime minister Jose Socrates, arrested last week on corruption and tax fraud charges, was quoted on Thursday as saying the accusations against him were groundless and that his detention amounted to “gratuitous humil…
Thai government delays draft rubber law amid farmers’ discontent
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government postponed debate on a draft rubber law on Thursday after coming under pressure from rubber farmers’ groups to scrap the law, the deputy agriculture minister said.
Greece tows migrant-packed ship to safety off Crete
ATHENS (Reuters) – A Greek frigate has towed a disabled cargo ship packed with 700 migrants to safety just off the island of Crete on Thursday, in one of the biggest sea rescues mounted by the Mediterranean nation, coastguard officials said.
