Lonmin pay dispute tees up sector-wide South African platinum strike
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The hardline AMCU union declared a wage dispute with mining company Lonmin on Thursday, raising the possibility of a strike across South Africa’s platinum industry that could hit half of global output.
Czech left leader defeats rebels, takes control of government talks
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka took back control of talks to form a new government on Thursday, defeating a bid to oust him by party rebels unhappy over a poor election result.
Kosovo withdraws warrant for Serbian minister ahead of vote
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo has withdrawn an arrest warrant for a Serbian government minister, a judge said on Thursday, easing tension before an election that is central to a fragile EU-brokered accord between the Balkan neighbors.
UK weighs introducing criminal sanctions against energy firms
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is considering introducing criminal sanctions against energy firms that manipulate the market at the expense of consumers, energy minister Ed Davey said on Thursday.
Niger says 92 migrants found dead in Sahara after failed crossing
NIAMEY (Reuters) – The corpses of 92 migrants, most of them women and children, have been found in northern Niger after their vehicles broke down attempting to cross the vast Sahara desert, authorities said on Thursday.
Exclusive: Russian banks strengthen ties with blacklisted Syrian lenders
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Intent on supplying his government with arms, oil and food, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has turned to Russian banks to access world markets, and the lenders could open more doors to him, despite a risk of isolation from the U.S….
Egyptian Islamists call for daily protests before Mursi trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi called on Thursday for daily protests in the four days before his trial on November 4, raising the danger of more violence in a crisis that has already cost hundreds of liv…
Death toll in attack on Salafi-held town in Yemen rises to 24
SANAA (Reuters) – The death toll from a Houthi Shi’ite attack on a mountain town in northern Yemen held by their Salafi Sunni Muslim rivals has risen to 24, a Salafi spokesman said on Thursday, as the two sides fought for a second day.
France’s Le Pen starts row over freed hostages’ beards
PARIS (Reuters) – French far right leader Marine Le Pen was criticized on Thursday for questioning the beards and scarves worn by four French hostages on their homecoming after three years as prisoners of Islamist militants in the Sahara desert.
Congo army says hunting rebels deep into mountain bases
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Congo’s army said on Thursday it was hunting rebels deep into forests and mountains along the border with Rwanda and Uganda, the last insurgent hideouts after they were driven from towns they held during a…
