U.S. defense chief praises Mongolia, given horse during visit
ULAN BATOR (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel praised Mongolian troops and got a horse as a gift during a rare visit on Thursday to the landlocked nation strategically located between China and Russia that sits on vast quantities of untappe…
Big gaps remain between U.S. and Japan in trade talks: ministers
TOKYO (Reuters) – Big gaps remain between the United States and Japan after two days of top-level talks on a bilateral trade deal that is vital for a broader regional pact, negotiators on both sides said on Thursday.
Car bomb explodes outside Greek central bank building, no one hurt
ATHENS (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded outside a central bank building in Athens early on Thursday, smashing windows but causing no injuries, just hours before Greece was due to make its first foray into the international bond markets in four years.
United States upgrades Philippine civil aviation rating
MANILA (Reuters) – The U.S. aviation regulator has upgraded the civil aviation status of the Philippines to let its airlines operate new direct flights to the United States, Manila’s transport minister said on Thursday.
Bulgaria torn between old friends and new partners over Crimea
SOFIA (Reuters) – Georgi Kadiev is, like many of his fellow Bulgarians, caught between Russia and the West.
Pistorius forced to look at ‘exploded’ head of girlfriend
PRETORIA (Reuters) – A South African prosecutor forced Oscar Pistorius on Wednesday to look at a forensic photograph that showed the head of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after it was blown open by a hollow-point bullet fired by the Olympic and Paraly…
More funds sought for Bangladesh factory collapse victims
BERLIN (Reuters) – Campaigners launched a new effort on Thursday to push Western brands to pay into a compensation fund for victims of the collapse of a Bangladeshi factory almost a year ago that killed more than 1,100 people.
Iran, six powers seek to narrow ‘significant gaps’ in nuclear talks
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran will never slow down its nuclear research program, its supreme leader said on Wednesday as negotiators from Tehran and six world powers struggled to narrow “significant gaps” that the United States warned might be insurmountable…
Separatists in east Ukraine call on Putin for help, Kiev warns of force
LUHANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk on Wednesday and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use…
Move to oust Thai PM more than just a walk in the park for protesters
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Two months ago, Piyavadee Boonmak was living comfortably at home. But she quit her job as a civil servant and now works as a volunteer cleaning toilets at Lumpini Park, the new focal point of anti-government protests in the Thai cap…
