Five dead in helicopter crash in France near Swiss border
STRASBOURG France (Reuters) – Five Swiss nationals died in a helicopter crash near the eastern French city of Montbeliard on Thursday, French authorities said.
German court delays ruling on dredging of Elbe in Hamburg
LEIPZIG Germany (Reuters) – A German court delayed a long-awaited ruling on Thursday on the proposed dredging of the river Elbe for large container ships in Hamburg, Germany’s largest port, saying it would wait until the European Court decided on a sim…
Incoming Swedish government won’t raise VAT on restaurants
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s incoming center-left government will not raise VAT on restaurant meals, the junior coalition partner the Greens said on Thursday, as they and the Social Democrats try to build a minority government that can win broad poli…
U.N. nuclear watchdog pushes for headway in Iran inquiry: diplomats
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear agency is expected to make a new attempt soon to advance its investigation into suspected atomic bomb research by Iran, diplomats said on Thursday, more than a month after Tehran missed a deadline for cooperation.
Third American held in North Korea appeals to U.S. for help: report
SEOUL (Reuters) – One of three Americans held in North Korea on charges of crimes against the state said he was anxiously awaiting his trial and appealed for U.S. government help to secure their freedom, a news report said on Thursday.
Modi aims to shake up sanitation with Clean India drive
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – His hands protected by torn orange gloves, Dalbira Singh has a grim job scraping waste from train toilets from the tracks at New Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin station, a few minutes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office.
Militants take control of western Iraqi town of Hit: security sources
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Militants took control of most of the western Iraqi town of Hit in Anbar province early on Thursday, security sources and local officials said.
Saudi Arabia fears Yemeni tumult may boost its main foe Iran
RIYADH (Reuters) – The capture of Yemen’s capital by rebels with ties to Iran has jolted Saudi Arabia, prompting a scramble by Riyadh to prevent its Shi’ite Muslim rival from exploiting the takeover to make trouble in the kingdom’s backyard.
Appointment of U.S.-based economist as India adviser hits Modi hurdle
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not decided whether to appoint U.S.-based economist Arvind Subramanian as the government’s chief economic adviser, a senior government source told Reuters, in a delay that may impact policy and bud…
Massacre in Syrian Kurdish town would end PKK’s peace talks with Turkey: Ocalan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan has warned that peace talks between his group and the Turkish state will come to an end if Islamic State militants are allowed to carry out a massacre in a predominantly Kurdish town o…
