Obama meets Pope Francis, stressing fight against inequality
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama highlighted growing gaps between rich and poor ahead of his first meeting on Thursday with Pope Francis, an event that was expected to focus on the fight against poverty and skirt moral controversies…
IMF agrees $14-18 billion bailout for Ukraine
KIEV (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it had agreed a $14-18 billion bailout for Ukraine, a deal that will unlock further credits to reach a total of $27 billion over the next two years.
China to strengthen Internet security after U.S. spying report
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will beef up its internet security in response to recent reports that the U.S. government spied on a major telecommunications firm, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
Six stabbed to death in family dispute in Beijing
BEIJING (Reuters) – Six people in Beijing were stabbed to death over a family property dispute by a man with a history of mental illness, the city’s police said on Thursday, while seven others were stabbed in a separate incident in the south of the cou…
Beijing man stabs six to death over property dispute: police
BEIJING (Reuters) – Police in Beijing said on Thursday that they had arrested a 34-year-old man who stabbed six people to death over a family property dispute.
Strikes hit German airports as public sector pushes for higher pay
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s main airports were hit by a strike on Thursday morning, as public sector workers expanded industrial action to put more pressure on the government in pay talks.
U.N. Security Council to meet Thursday on North Korea missile launch
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council will hold closed-door consultations on Thursday to discuss a possible condemnation of North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches, U.N. diplomats said.
Iran fuel price hikes will be big test for Rouhani
ANKARA (Reuters) – Looming fuel price rises in Iran will be the first major test of President Hassan Rouhani’s ability to retain public support in the face of attacks from his hardline rivals.
Lebanese army officer shot dead in northern city of Tripoli: state media
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Lebanese army officer was shot dead in the country’s second city of Tripoli during fighting between rival sects on Thursday, a security source and state media said.
Kandahar, cradle of Afghan insurgency, torn by tribal rivalry ahead of vote
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Growing violence in the southern province of Kandahar ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential election next week highlights a rift between Pashtun tribes that could tip the country back into civil war.
