China charges Bo Xilai with corruption, paves way for trial
JINAN, China (Reuters) – China charged disgraced senior politician Bo Xilai with bribery, abuse of power and corruption on Thursday, paving the way for a potentially divisive trial that President Xi Jinping will want smoothly handled as he pushes major…
Driver of Spanish derailed train put under formal investigation: court
MADRID (Reuters) – One driver of the Spanish train which derailed on Wednesday in the northwestern region of Galicia, killing 78 people and injuring around 130, has been put under formal investigation, a spokeswoman for Galicia’s Supreme Court told Reu…
Spanish train takes bend at high speed, careers off tracks: video
MADRID (Reuters) – The Spanish train that derailed on Wednesday, killing at least 78, entered a sharp bend at high speed then careered off the tracks, smashing into a wall running alongside the rail, security camera footage posted on El Pais newspaper …
South Africa’s ‘worst rapist’ hangs himself before trial
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A man suspected of being South Africa’s worst known serial rapist has been found dead in his prison cell hours before he was to go trial on charges that included sexually assaulting 34 children, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Exclusive: Syria’s war halves wheat harvest, erodes state share
AMMAN (Reuters) – Civil war in Syria has cut the wheat harvest to its worst level in nearly three decades and the government’s share of the crop is being further eroded as it struggles to procure grain from rebel-held farming areas.
Spain’s Rajoy declares three days of official mourning after train crash
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Prime minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday said he would declare three days of official mourning after a train derailed in the northwestern region of Galicia, killing at least 78 people and injuring up to 131.
Kuwait protest movement shifts focus ahead of election
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Late last year 25-year-old Kuwaiti activist Mohammad Qasem was taking part in mass protests against changes to the voting system almost every week ahead of a parliamentary election.
One dead, three seriously injured after Italy fireworks plant explodes
ROME (Reuters) – At least one person was killed and three were seriously injured on Thursday after a fireworks factory exploded in central Italy, the local fire service said.
North Korean leader Kim visits war graves before “victory” day
PYONGYANG (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided on Thursday over a commemoration at a war cemetery as the country prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of what is sees as its victory in the Korean War with defiance of old enemy the Unite…
Former Australian PM calls refugee camps ‘Gulags’; opposition eyes military fix
CANBERRA (Reuters) – A former Australian prime minister denounced offshore refugee detention camps as Soviet-style “Gulags” on Thursday and the opposition proposed empowering the military to stop boats of asylum seekers days before a national election …
