French foie gras makers fed up by toughened California ban
French producers of foie gras, the rich liver delicacy made from force-feeding grain to ducks or geese, have denounced a ban on the product in California, saying they make the creamy paté humanely, following all the rules.
Turkey deports Dutch journalist, alleges link to al Qaeda offshoot
Turkey on Thursday deported a 31-year-old journalist who works for Dutch newspapers, accusing her of links to the militant Nusra Front, an al Qaeda offshoot involved in neighboring Syria’s war.
Hundreds of Rohingya families flee India after deportations
Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim families have left India for Bangladesh since seven Rohingya men were deported to their home country Myanmar in October, community leaders said on Thursday, and more were preparing to flee a crackdown.
Afghan president thanks Pakistan for help with Taliban talks
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani thanked Pakistan on Thursday for its help in pushing forward peace talks with the Taliban as diplomatic efforts continued to keep the process on track, Pakistani officials said.
Israeli museum to drop ‘McJesus’ sculpture after protests
An Israeli museum plans to withdraw a sculpture depicting the McDonald’s mascot as the crucified Jesus following protests which briefly united the country’s Christian minority, its populist culture minister and the pro-Palestinian artist.
Canadian kidnapped in Burkina Faso found dead: security ministry
A Canadian kidnapped in Burkina Faso on Tuesday has been found dead, a spokesman for the security ministry told Reuters on Thursday.
Face value: One-time Afghan wedding singer a ringer for Canada’s Trudeau
Afghan singer Abdul Salam Maftoon’s striking resemblance to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned him into an unlikely celebrity in the war-torn country since his debut on a talent show.
Bridge collapse blocks Brussels-Scheldt canal traffic
All traffic on Belgium’s Brussels-Willebroek Canal, a freight link between the capital and the Scheldt estuary around Antwerp, was halted on Thursday until at least early Saturday and probably longer after a bridge accident.
UK Labour leader says any new Brexit referendum can’t be a re-run of 2016
Any new referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union cannot simply be a re-run of the 2016 vote, British opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Thursday, adding that Labour policy on a new referendum would not be set by him alone.
Invest in health for global security and growth, Gates urges donors
Donating billions of dollars to global funds that fight poverty and disease is one of the best investments governments can make to boost security and economic growth, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates said on Thursday.
