Germany tackles benefit abuse as migration soars from eastern EU
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany expects the number of Romanians and Bulgarians moving to the country to double this year, now that they are free to work anywhere in the European Union, and will defend its welfare system from potential abuse, the government …
U.S. says U.N. report lays blame on Syria government for hindered aid
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.N. report on how Syria’s neediest civilians are often not accessible to humanitarian relief workers makes it clear that the government of President Bashar al-Assad shoulders most of the blame, a U.S. official said on Tues…
Venezuela opposition mayor gets one-year jail sentence over protests
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s top court has sentenced the mayor of the city of San Cristobal to a year in jail for failing to break up anti-government protests, extending a crackdown of opposition leaders associated with nearly two months of demonstr…
China to try former mining magnate and his gang next week
BEIJING (Reuters) – The trial of a Chinese former mining magnate and the “mafia-style” gang he ran will begin in central China next week on charges including murder, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
India’s Congress targets ‘inclusive’ growth in election pitch
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s ruling Congress party, facing a likely general election defeat, defended its economic track record over a decade in power and sought to woo voters with offers of further costly welfare measures.
Cameron backs Norway’s Stoltenberg to be next NATO leader
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday he backed former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg to take over the leadership of NATO later this year, throwing his weight behind the front runner to lead the Western mi…
South Africa mediator to resume talks with striking platinum union
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s government mediator said it will meet with the striking Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) on Wednesday to restart talks aimed at ending a crippling platinum strike now entering its tenth we…
Hungary to ignore critics with landslide for Orban
BATONYTERENYE, Hungary (Reuters) – Barring a major upset, Hungarians will enthusiastically re-elect Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party for another term in April. To outsiders who see an authoritarian troublemaker, the expected landslide l…
Oligarch Berezovsky was “broken man” after court battle, inquest hears
WINDSOR, England (Reuters) – Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky was a “broken man” after losing a multi-billion dollar court case to fellow Russian Roman Abramovich and regularly talked about killing himself in the months before his death, an inquest he…
Tunisia sees elections in 2014, despite delays
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s presidential and parliamentary elections will go ahead as planned later this year despite delays in approving a new election law, authorities said on Wednesday.
