Thai auto sector slams on brakes as political crisis rumbles on
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s auto sector, Southeast Asia’s biggest, has fired more than 30,000 subcontracted workers this year and slashed production, as sales plunge after months of political unrest that threatens to drive some manufacturers offshor…
Australia seeks to fireproof budget against a China downturn
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia, having ridden a boom in Chinese demand for raw materials, is seeking to fireproof itself from any shocks from its top trading partner, promising a tough federal budget aimed at reining in rising debt and deficits.
Europe safety chief backs flight-tracking after MH370
PARIS (Reuters) – Europe’s top aviation regulator has called for international action to address concerns raised by the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, while acknowledging delays in responding to a similar disaster in 2009.
UK Deputy PM dismisses Cameron’s EU strategy as ‘wishful thinking’
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to renegotiate Britain’s ties with the European Union are wishful thinking and likely to yield only minor concessions that will not unite his governing Conservative party, his coalition partner wi…
Oil rig helicopter crashes off Ghana’s coast, killing three
ACCRA (Reuters) – A service helicopter carrying workers to an oil rig off the coast of Ghana operated by Russia’s Lukoil crashed into the ocean on Thursday, killing at least three people, a military spokesman said.
Nigeria’s president at WEF pledges to free kidnapped girls
ABUJA/MAIDUGURI (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan promised on Thursday to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadowed his opening address to a conference designed to showcase investment …
Western missions in Yemen on alert as army advances against Qaeda
ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – Western embassies in Yemen heightened security on Thursday after increasingly bold attacks on foreigners by al Qaeda, even as the militant Islamists lost ground to an army offensive in the south.
No decision on French carrier deal to Russia before Oct-source
PARIS (Reuters) – France will not review its 1.2 billion-euro ($1.66 billion) contract to sell helicopter carriers to Russia earlier than planned because of the Ukraine crisis, despite U.S. concerns, a French government source said on Thursday.
Opposition to new Libyan PM may scupper oil port deal
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – A Libyan government deal to reopen major oil ports controlled by rebels looks likely to unravel as the appointment of a new Islamist-backed prime minister fuels distrust that is eroding support for the accord.
Chilean students march to pressure Bachelet on promised reforms
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Thousands of students marched through the Chilean capital on Thursday for the first time since President Michelle Bachelet took power, ratcheting up the pressure on her to fulfill her campaign pledges to overhaul education in the c…
