Venezuela arrests pharmacy chain owners in ‘economic war’
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela has arrested two bosses of a major pharmacy chain accused of exacerbating long shopping lines in what President Nicolas Maduro calls “an economic war” underway in the recession-hit OPEC nation.
Taiwan pilot hailed a hero for pulling plane clear of buildings
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taipei’s mayor hailed the pilot of a crashed TransAsia Airways plane a hero on Thursday for narrowly avoiding buildings and ditching the stalled aircraft in a river, likely averting a worse disaster.
Al Qaeda in Yemen says leading member killed by U.S. air strike
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Yemeni arm of al Qaeda said on Thursday that one of its leading members had been killed by a U.S. air strike while traveling in a car in the southern province of Shabwa on Jan. 31.
Manila says China starts dredging at another reef in disputed waters
MANILA (Reuters) – China has started dredging around the disputed Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, a Philippine navy commander said on Thursday, signalling Beijing may be preparing to expand its facilities in the area.
Britain says to contribute troops, planes to reassure Baltics over Russia
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will send four Typhoon fighter jets again this year to help NATO with air policing in the Baltic States, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said on Thursday, promising that up to 1,000 British troops will also join a NATO rapid…
Greek banks hammered after ECB snub, Athens rejects ‘blackmail’
ATHENS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Greek borrowing costs leapt and bank shares were hammered on Thursday after the European Central Bank abruptly pulled the plug on its funding for the country’s financial sector in what Athens labelled an act of coercion.
One killed in restaurant attack north of Cairo: agency
CAIRO (Reuters) – One person was killed in an attack on a restaurant north of Cairo on Thursday, Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported.
France’s Hollande says any Greece deal must respect EU rules
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande reiterated his view on Thursday that any deal between Greece and its European Union creditors on easing Athens’ debt burden must respect its prior commitments and the bloc’s rules.
Christian protesters clash with police in India’s Delhi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Hundreds of Christian protesters clashed with police in India’s capital on Thursday as they tried to press demands for better government protection amid concern about rising intolerance after a series of attacks on churches.Demons…
Five more Ukrainian soldiers killed in east in past 24 hours: Kiev military
KIEV (Reuters) – Five more Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in fighting with Russian-backed separatists in the past 24 hours, a military spokesman said on Thursday.
