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.
Ukraine leader urges EU trade deal, doesn’t budge on Tymoshenko
KIEV (Reuters) – President Viktor Yanukovich pressed the European Union on Thursday to conclude a milestone political and trade deal with Ukraine this year but he gave no ground on a key EU demand that he free jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko.
China blames management’s ‘total mess’ for slaughterhouse fire
BEIJING (Reuters) – Safety management at the Chinese firm whose poultry slaughterhouse caught fire earlier this week killing 120 people was a “total mess” and two senior executives have been detained by the authorities, state media said on Thursday.
Belgian royals face first tax bills, wage cuts
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium’s royal family will start paying taxes for the first time and will lose some state allowances, the government said, bringing them into line with some other monarchies at a time of belt-tightening around Europe.
