Finland’s Katainen set to replace Rehn at EU till October
HELSINKI (Reuters) – The Finnish government proposed outgoing Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen on Wednesday to replace Olli Rehn as the EU’s top economic official until the term of the current European Commission expires at the end of October.
Mexico’s rural landowners pose threat to foreign energy investors
EMILIANO ZAPATA Mexico (Reuters) – When foreign investors begin to pour into Mexico’s overhauled energy sector in the coming months, they will face a potent force well-known to miners: Mexico’s ejidos, or rural landowner groups.
Italy’s beaches: open for business but closed to competition
MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s beaches are a family affair – and that’s a problem for the euro zone’s third-largest economy.
Thai junta unfazed by serial hunger striker’s “win-win” fast
BANGKOK (Reuters) – For more than three decades, Chalad Vorachat’s hunger strikes have drawn crowds. Once, he even helped topple a government.
China plan to gag lawyers online denounced as insult
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has drafted rules banning lawyers from drawing attention to cases through the internet and media, which critics say amounts to a gag order stopping them publicizing controversial cases and miscarriages of justice.
After years of pressure, Japan bans possession of child porn
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s parliament voted on Wednesday to outlaw possession of child pornography after years of international calls for a crackdown, but avoided a clampdown on sexually explicit manga comics and animation depicting young children.
‘Accidental blast’ kills 17 Chinese soldiers storing ammunition
BEIJING (Reuters) – An explosion killed 17 soldiers storing ammunition in a military warehouse in central China, state media reported on Wednesday.
Security beefed up at World Cup venue where guards fail to show
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Some private security guards failed to show up at the World Cup stadium where hosts Brazil played Mexico on Tuesday, forcing Brazilian authorities to bring in reinforcements to secure the crowded venue.
Police disperse protesters outside Brazil World Cup match
FORTALEZA Brazil (Reuters) – Brazilian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a small group of anti-World Cup protesters blocking a road to the stadium where Brazil played against Mexico on Tuesday.
Explosion hits World Cup viewing area in northeast Nigeria
DAMATURU Nigeria (Reuters) – An explosion tore through a venue in the northeast Nigerian town of Damaturu where fans had gathered to watch a World Cup soccer match on Tuesday, a police official said, declining to give further details.
