Two London Times journalists released after being kidnapped in Syria
(Reuters) – Two London Times journalists covering the Syrian civil war were kidnapped by a “rebel gang” and one of them was shot before members of an anti-extremist rebel group intervened and secured their release, the Times reported on Thursday.
Taiwanese steel plant in Vietnam attacked by rioters: media
TAIPEI (Reuters) – A steel plant owned by Formosa Plastics Group, Taiwan’s biggest investor in Vietnam, was attacked by rioters overnight, Taiwanese media reported on Thursday.
Exclusive: Israel’s David’s Sling will not win Polish missile tender – official
JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israel is poised to lose out on a deal valued at up to $13 billion to build a missile defense shield for Poland, an Israeli defense official said on Wednesday, citing lobbying by Washington on behalf of rival U.S. syste…
Italy’s Alitalia scraps Venezuela flights over currency dispute: sources
CARACAS (Reuters) – Italian airline Alitalia has canceled service to Venezuela as of June 2 due to delays in repatriating revenue under the country’s 11-year-old currency control system, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Japan’s working poor left behind by Abenomics
TOKYO (Reuters) – Last Christmas Eve, Ririko Saito and her 11-year-old daughter gathered some plastic bottles, pots and a kettle and made several trips to a nearby park to get water. Their utility had just turned off the tap after months of unpaid bill…
White House urges dialogue, not intimidation in China rig dispute
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Wednesday that a dispute between China and Vietnam that erupted within days of President Barack Obama’s visit to Asia to address regional tensions needs to be resolved with dialogue, not intimidation.
Benin president pardons alleged plotters after French mediation
COTONOU (Reuters) – Benin’s President Boni Yayi has publicly pardoned those accused of trying to poison him in an alleged 2012 coup attempt after the mediation of international figures, including the president of France.
IMF says Mali cash delayed over questionable jet purchase
DAKAR (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund says it will delay the disbursement of $6 million in aid to Mali pending a clarification from the government on the purchase of a $40 million presidential jet, an IMF spokesman said.
Furious Turks heckle Erdogan after at least 274 die in mine disaster
SOMA, Turkey (Reuters) – Furious Turks heckled Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and jostled his entourage on Wednesday as protests erupted in several cities over a coal mine disaster in which at least 274 people died, making it the worst industrial accide…
Kerry discusses peace, unity government with Palestinian leader
LONDON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a two-hour discussion with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in London late on Wednesday in their first meeting since U.S. efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal collapsed last m…
