Costa Concordia re-floated to be towed away for scrap
GIGLIO Italy (Reuters) – The wreck of the luxury liner Costa Concordia was refloated on Monday and will soon be towed away and broken up for scrap, more than two years after it capsized off the Italian coast, killing 32 people.
China’s Xi not making global impact, views of China positive: Pew
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping is failing to make much of an impression on people around the world concerned about China’s human rights, but on balance the country is seen favourably, especially in economic terms, a report said on Mon…
EU to resume aid to Guinea-Bissau government after poll
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will resume giving direct development aid to the Guinea-Bissau government after it held presidential elections rated as “free and credible,” the EU said in Monday.
Nigerian leader tells Malala missing girls to be home soon
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan promised on Monday that more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist militants would soon return home, teenage Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai said after meeting him.
Poland, Balts uneasy over Italian for EU foreign policy job
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Poland and the Baltic states are uneasy about Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini’s bid to be European Union foreign policy chief, concerned that she may be soft on Russia, but look unlikely to block her, diplomats said on …
Syrian refugees, sectarian tensions endanger Lebanon: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Lebanon is at risk of crumbling as a state under the burden of 1.1 million Syrian refugees and foreign donors must make good on pledges of support to help it survive the crisis, the top U.N. official in the small coastal country warn…
Nepal halts cremation of Buddhist monk after Chinese pressure: report
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Nepal has reversed a decision to allow a monk prominent in Tibetan Buddhism to be cremated on its soil after what media reports said was pressure from China and his organization said on Monday they were in talks with the governmen…
Turkish presidential candidate donates to rivals’ campaign funds
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has turned down a donation to his campaign war-chest for August’s presidential election from an unusual source – his main rival.
Hollande hints at tax cut for middle class, urges French to be positive
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande has suggested that his government will ease taxes for the middle classes, in a National Day interview that urged his fellow citizens to be more self-confident and look on the bright side.
Romania president’s brother indicted in bribery case
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian President Traian Basescu’s brother was indicted on Monday on charges of taking a 250,000 euros ($341,000) bribe to help shorten a crime boss’s prison sentence.
