Maverick French minister is a necessary nuisance for Hollande
PARIS (Reuters) – While French President Francois Hollande is at pains to repair his fraught relations with business, his industry minister has other ideas – or so many entrepreneurs and even some government colleagues believe.
North, South Korea move to end rupture in ties
SEOUL (Reuters) – North and South Korea announced on Thursday they were planning to hold talks for the first time since February 2011, signaling attempts to repair ties that have been ruptured for months.
Fighting between Sudanese army and rebels displaces 60,000: U.N.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – More than 60,000 people have fled a town in Sudan’s main oil region since it was attacked by insurgents in April, the United Nations said on Thursday.
No new cash for garment industry safety in Bangladesh budget
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s finance minister pledged on Thursday to improve safety in the garment industry after a factory collapse killed more than 1,100 people, but he unveiled no new money in his annual budget to relocate dangerous buildings.
Britain to compensate Kenyans for colonial-era torture
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain expressed regret on Thursday about the abuse of Kenyans by colonial forces during the Mau Mau insurgency in the 1950s and announced a compensation package for more than 5,200 survivors worth a total of 20 million pounds ($31 …
Arabs press Iran on atomic reactor safety
VIENNA (Reuters) – Arab Gulf states sought reassurances from Iran at a U.N. nuclear agency meeting this week over the safety of its only atomic energy plant, which is located in an earthquake-prone coastal area, diplomats said on Thursday.
German court backs gay couples’ tax rights in setback to Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s top court said on Thursday that gay couples are entitled to the same tax benefits as married heterosexuals in a ruling which threatens to deepen rifts within Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives just three months before…
Supporters cheer defendants at ‘show trial’ of anti-Putin protestors
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Supporters applauded and chanted “We will win” in a Moscow courthouse on Thursday as 12 Russians went before a judge charged with mass disorder during a protest against Vladimir Putin.
Britain to compensate Kenyan victims over colonial-era torture
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain expressed regret on Thursday about the abuse of Kenyans by colonial forces during the Mau Mau insurgency in the 1950s and announced a compensation package for over 5,200 elderly survivors worth a total of 20 million pounds ($…
Pirates release Pakistani crew kidnapped off Nigeria
YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Pirates have released five Pakistani crew they kidnapped from an oil tanker off the Nigerian coast two weeks ago, security sources said on Thursday.
