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.
Net migration to Britain surges in blow to PM Cameron before election
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron suffered a blow to his re-election campaign on Thursday after his pledge to cut migration to the tens of thousands was undercut by new data showing a net 260,000 people moved to Britain in the year to Jun…
Aim of sanctions not to bash Russian economy: German foreign minister
BERLIN (Reuters) – The goal of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis must not be to wear down Russia economically, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday.
UK strikes deal to grant Scotland more powers to counter separatists
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s main political parties struck what they said was a historic deal to grant Scotland tax-raising powers and greater autonomy to try to satisfy disappointed separatists who lost an independence vote two months ago.
Iraq finance minister urges battle against graft in military
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s finance minister called for deep-rooted reforms to stamp out corruption in a military that collapsed in the face of an Islamic State advance, as he prepares to spend nearly a quarter of the 2015 budget on defense.
Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party set to dominate Friday poll
WINDHOEK (Reuters) – Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was expected to extend its near quarter-century in power in elections on Friday as voters and investors looked for a steady hand to guide the uranium and diamond-producer through a global commodities sl…
Nine injured in south China knife attack
BEIJING (Reuters) – Nine people were rushed to the hospital after a man stabbed them at a grocery store in south China on Thursday, state media reported, the latest in a series of knifings that has unnerved the country.
EU expects stable gas supply even as Russian shipments yet to start
ASTANA (Reuters) – The European Union expects stable gas supplies this winter under a deal by Russia and Ukraine, a senior EU energy official said, even while Moscow has yet to resume shipments and Kiev has yet to pay in advance as agreed.
