Time to stop defense cuts, NATO tells East Europeans
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – NATO members in Central and Eastern Europe need to beef up defense spending after cutting it for the past five years while Russia has sharply increased its military budget, the head of the Western alliance said on Thursday.
Hungary ruling party extends poll lead, far right in second place
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling center-right party extended its lead in an opinion poll ahead of European Parliament elections, while far-right party Jobbik beat the Socialists to come in second, pollster Median said…
Algeria’s Bouteflika proposes constitutional amendments, term limits
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika proposed amending 47 articles of the constitution, including imposing a two-term presidential limit and delegating more authority to the prime minister, a government source said on Thursday.
British police reopen Bank of England area after vehicle security alert
LONDON (Reuters) – British police reopened an area around the Bank of England to pedestrians on Thursday after calling a security alert because of an abandoned car in the heart of London’s financial district.
Bangladesh ferry capsizes with 200 passengers aboard, 6 bodies found
DHAKA (Reuters) – A Bangladeshi ferry with around 200 passengers on board capsized in a river near the capital Dhaka on Thursday, with police reporting that at least six bodies had been recovered with a rescue vessel still on the way to the site.
Kenya scolds Britain, U.S. over ‘unfriendly’ travel warnings
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya rebuked Britain, the United States, Australia and France on Thursday for issuing warnings about travel to the east African country and particularly its main port city after a series of attacks there.
City of London police say suspect vehicle near Bank of England safe
LONDON (Reuters) – City of London police said on Thursday that a previously suspect vehicle near the Bank of England was now deemed safe, and that the area had been reopened to pedestrians.
British police seal off Bank of England area after suspect vehicle found
LONDON (Reuters) – British police sealed off the area near the Bank of England on Thursday after a car was abandoned in the heart of London’s financial district.
South Africa platinum producer Lonmin considers court action to end strike
MARIKANA, South Africa (Reuters) – South African platinum producer Lonmin said on Thursday it might go to court in a bid to stop a 16-week strike because of the levels of violence faced by workers who want to return to work.
Heads roll as Austrian students tested on Nazi apologist text
VIENNA (Reuters) – Two senior Austrian educators will step down over a scandal in which a test administered to school-leavers featured an essay by a Nazi apologist, the latest in a series of missteps in awarding high school diplomas.
