Italian president called as witness in mafia case
ROME (Reuters) – A Sicilian court will call Italy’s president to testify in an investigation into alleged secret talks between the mafia and the state in the wake of deadly bombings two decades ago, judicial sources said on Thursday.
British lawmakers attack government ‘timidity’ over Sri Lanka
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s decision to set aside worries about Sri Lanka’s human rights record and back its selection as host of a Commonwealth leaders’ meeting showed a lack of principle, a panel of lawmakers said on Thursday.
Bad weather being blamed for Lao Airlines crash which killed 49 passengers and crew
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Bad weather is being blamed for the crash of a Lao Airlines plane which plunged into the Mekong river in southern Laos killing all 49 people on board, among them nationals of 10 countries.
Bulgarian government survives second no-confidence vote
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s Socialist-led government on Thursday survived its second no-confidence vote this month, as expected, but the motion underscored the political divisions plaguing the European Union’s poorest country.
Economists warn on minimum wage before German coalition talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s leading economic institutes warned ahead of a round of coalition talks on Thursday against the introduction of a new minimum wage of 8.50 euros per hour, saying the move could lead to significant job losses in eastern Germa…
Fingerprints in European passports legal: EU court
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s highest court rejected on Thursday a German man’s challenge to the inclusion of his fingerprints in his passport, saying such data helped to prevent identity fraud and to curb illegal immigration.
Canadian U.N. worker released in Syria: state TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Canadian man working for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights has been released, Syrian state television said on Thursday, eight months after he was reported to have been captured by rebel fighters.
Ukraine’s Tymoshenko should be free in a month: daughter
KIEV (Reuters) – The daughter of Ukraine’s jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko sees two years of pain and “psychological torture” ending for her mother with her departure to Germany for medical treatment by November 19 under a deal brokered by Eu…
Britain opens nuclear power projects to Chinese investment
BEIJING (Reuters) – Britain opened the door to investment from China in its nuclear sector on Thursday as finance minister George Osborne invited Chinese companies to take stakes in new nuclear projects.
Greek protesters march on finance ministry with gifts of food
ATHENS (Reuters) – Municipal workers marched on the finance minister’s office in Athens with baskets of olive oil, tomatoes and a whole chicken on Thursday in an ironic protest after he suggested his family was suffering like other Greeks in the econom…
