Le Pen faces reality check in depressed French towns
PARIS (Reuters) – Far-right leader Marine Le Pen humbled France’s establishment with a powerful showing in local elections. Now comes the hard part: proving her party can improve everyday life in the gritty, problem-ridden towns it will run.
Russia says expects answers on NATO troops in eastern Europe
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday Russia wanted answers from NATO regarding its activities in eastern Europe after the Western military alliance promised to beef up defenses for its eastern members.
China demands Malaysia ensure safety of Chinese after kidnap
KUALA LUMPUR/BEIJING (Reuters) – China demanded that Malaysia ensures the safety of its nationals on Thursday, after armed men abducted two women, a Chinese tourist and a Philippine hotel worker, from a Malaysian diving resort on Borneo island.
Turkey’s opposition seeking recount of Ankara poll results
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s main opposition party is hopeful an internal recount of votes from Sunday’s local polls will help reverse a victory for the ruling party in the capital Ankara, but a final verdict from electoral authorities is likely to take…
Pakistan’s Sharif frees 16 Taliban prisoners in bid to revive peace talks
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan has freed at least sixteen Taliban prisoners with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, officials said on Thursday, in a move designed to invigorate a shaky peace process with the militant group.
Victory seen for PM Orban, far-right may gain in Hungary vote
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks likely to win a second term in parliamentary elections on Sunday, but the far-right Jobbik party is on course for a strong showing.
Thai government fears violent backlash if PM removed from office
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government said on Thursday it fears a violent backlash if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is removed from power as figures for March show consumer confidence slipped to a new low, illustrating the heavy toll of months…
Muslim Brotherhood urges Britain not to yield to foreign ‘pressure’ over review
DUBAI (Reuters) – The Muslim Brotherhood has urged Britain not to bow to foreign pressure in conducting a review of the group over concerns about possible links to violence, following its designation by Egypt and Saudi Arabia as a terrorist organizatio…
Lufthansa pilots keep airline grounded for second day
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Lufthansa pilots were on strike for a second day on Thursday, grounding Germany’s largest airline in a row over retirement conditions.
Ukraine detains 12 riot police on suspicion of ‘mass murder’
KIEV (Reuters) – Twelve members of Ukraine’s disbanded ‘Berkut’ riot police have been detained on suspicion of shooting peaceful participants in Kiev’s months-long anti-government protests, a spokesman for the General Prosecutor said on Thursday.
