Japan fast-food chain to grow food 100 km from wrecked nuclear plant
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese fast-food chain has announced plans to grow rice and vegetables on a farm 100 km (60 miles) from the crippled Fukushima power plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
Amplats strikes continue, talks set for Thursday
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Talks will resume on Thursday to seek an end to a strike that has brought most of the operations of South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum to a standstill, the head of the union behind the stoppage said on Wednesday.
Centre-right Senator says 25 lawmakers to break with Berlusconi
ROME (Reuters) – Italian center-right Senator Roberto Formigoni said on Wednesday that a group of 25 Senators is going to break with Silvio Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party and form its own parliamentary group.
Senior Golden Dawn lawmakers freed pending trial in Greece
ATHENS (Reuters) – Three senior lawmakers from Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party were freed on Wednesday pending trial on charges of belonging to a criminal group while a fourth was ordered to be kept in detention, a court official told Reuters.
Berlusconi says he has yet to decide whether to back Italy government
ROME (Reuters) – Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday that he has yet to decide whether he will support Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s government in a parliamentary confidence vote.
Mining magnate to share balance of power in Australian parliament
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Outspoken mining magnate Clive Palmer is set to play a key role in Australia’s new parliament after his start-up party won a third upper house seat on Wednesday, giving him the power to block or pass laws.
Thai woman jailed for five years for anti-royal web post
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai court jailed a woman for five years on Wednesday for posting online comments insulting to the monarchy, the second ruling of its kind this week under tough lese-majeste laws carrying penalties activists say are too harsh.
Bulgarian government survives no-confidence vote
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s parliament rejected on Wednesday the first no-confidence motion against the Socialist-led government over its investment policies to try to end a political standoff that has paralyzed decision-making.
South Korea, U.S. sign new pact to deter North Korea nuclear threat
SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States and South Korea signed a new pact to deter North Korea’s potential use of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction amid growing threats from Pyongyang, their defense chiefs said on Wednesday.
President Obama cancels official visit to Malaysia after U.S. government shutdown: media
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama has canceled an official trip to Malaysia next week after the U.S. government went into a shutdown, Malaysian media quoted Prime Minister Najib Razak as saying on Wednesday.
