China’s U.S. ambassador plays down tensions after Hagel trip
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China’s ambassador to the United States on Thursday played down the tense exchange this week in Beijing between Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his Chinese counterpart and praised the frank talk between the two countries.
Egyptian approves draft law barring challenges to contracts
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s cabinet approved a draft investment law on Thursday that prevents third parties from challenging contracts made between the government and an investor, two government officials said, a move that could boost the struggling econ…
Franco-era policeman in extradition hearing in Spanish court
MADRID (Reuters) – A former Spanish policeman denied he had carried out torture at a hearing in a Madrid court on Thursday, part of an extradition request from Argentina, where he is wanted for crimes allegedly committed during dictator General Francis…
Israeli minister urges Netanyahu to annex settlements
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A senior Israeli minister has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex a swathe of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying peace talks with the Palestinians were dead.
Egyptian approves draft law barring challenges to contracts
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s cabinet approved a draft investment law on Thursday that prevents third parties from challenging contracts made between the government and an investor, two government officials said, a move that could boost the struggling econ…
At ‘Donkey Springs’, bombers choke off Iraq oil exports
MOSUL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Militants whose bombs have shut Iraq’s main northern oil export pipeline for 40 days are preventing repairs, threatening to extend an outage that is already the longest since the days of sanctions in the 1990s.
UK’s Cameron says rivals’ views on Europe ‘extremist’
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron described rival parties’ views on the European Union as “extremist” on Thursday as he launched his bid to ward off a threat from an anti-EU party ahead of European Parliament elections.
Slovenia’s ruling party to choose new leader on April 25
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek’s Positive Slovenia party will elect a new leadership on April 25, the party said on Thursday, a move that will determine the future of Bratusek’s coalition government.
Canadian senator Brazeau arrested again: CBC
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Suspended Canadian Senator Patrick Brazeau had another brush with the law on Thursday, being arrested and facing charges including assault, breaching release conditions and uttering threats, CBC television reported.
Ex-treasurer of Spain’s ruling party says inherited slush fund: source
MADRID (Reuters) – A former treasurer for Spain’s ruling People’s Party who is accused of amassing personal wealth from a secret slush fund told a judge on Thursday that he inherited the fund from the party’s former secretary general, a court source sa…
