Syrian rebels strengthened their hold Thursday on an oil-rich province bordering Iraq, activists said, capturing a key military base that was considered one of the last bastions for President Bashar Assad's loyalists in the strategic region. Albania court convicts fugitive ex-spy chief
An Albanian court has convicted the country’s fugitive former intelligence chief of murder for the 1995 death of a suspect who was illegally detained for an alleged plot to murder the president of Macedonia.
Rhode Island Black Heritage Society names group to promote public access to rare collection
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society is pushing to make its extensive collection of rare books, manuscripts and pamphlets more accessible to the public.
Tory senators kill proposed legislation on controversial MS treatment
OTTAWA – The Conservatives have used their Senate majority to kill legislation that would have authorized a national strategy to deal with a controversial therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Georgia's new premier raises pressure on president
Georgia's new prime minister said Thursday he would move quickly to expand the Cabinet's powers, a change that would take away even more influence from the ex-Soviet nation's beleaguered pro-Western president. France faces twin tasks of ageing nuclear fleet, staff
PARIS (Reuters) – An ageing fleet of nuclear power plants and retirement of half of EDF’s nuclear staff in the next 5 years are the main challenges the French nuclear safety watchdog is facing and will have to deal with, its new head said on Thursday. France, the most nuclear-reliant nation in the world, will have to decide in the next few years whether to extend the lifespan of its 58 nuclear reactors to over 40 years, at a time it is trying to cut its reliance on the atom. “We have a nuclear fleet which was built in the 1960s, 70s, 80s. …
Aussie-born fullback Pritchard recalls Canada debut, nears national record
James Pritchard has one overpowering memory of his rugby debut for Canada against the New Zealand Maori in 2003.
Kidnapped Chinese oil workers freed by rebels
Four Chinese oil workers have been freed in the same southern jungles where the country’s largest rebel group kidnapped them 17 months ago, police said Thursday. China’s ambassador said that no ransom was ever sought for the men.
Rookie head coach Scott Milanovich leads Toronto Argonauts by example
TORONTO – As his Toronto Argonauts filtered into a hotel restaurant for a media breakfast, Scott Milanovich was already hard at work.
Two killed in clash at Harmony Gold South Africa mine
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Two miners were killed in clashes between rival unions in South Africa on Thursday at a mine run by Harmony Gold, in a fresh flare-up of labor violence in Africa’s largest economy days after a wave of wildcat strikes ended, police said. A third miner was in hospital after being shot in the leg during the confrontation at Kusasalethu mine, 65 km (40 miles) west of Johannesburg, police spokeswoman Katlego Mogale said. “Now its quiet. …
Flood insurance subsidy deal in doubt
LONDON (Reuters) – A plan to guarantee affordable insurance for homes in Britain's flood-prone regions could fail because the government won't provide the scheme with a financial backstop, several industry sources said. A collapse of the so-called Flood Re plan could lea ve 200,000 homes at high risk of flooding without insurance when an existing subsidy arrangement expires in July next year. Under Flood Re, drawn up by the insurance industry, households at low risk would pay a levy of up to 20 pounds a year into a fund which would cover claims from high-risk homes. … Irish charms keep U.S. giants sweet for now
DUBLIN (Reuters) – U.S. business chiefs gathered in the Irish capital on Thursday to give thanks for low taxes, a cool climate and the financial crisis ̵ 1; three factors that have helped produce a bumper year in their favorite corner of Europe. But there was a hint of foreboding at the American Chamber of Commerce's annual Thanksgiving lunch in Dublin that Ireland's promise to maintain its low corporate tax rate, its crisis wage cuts and its perfect weather for high-tech data farms may not be enough to keep the relationship sweet. … Swedish labour boss calls for rate cuts, won't back down on wage demands
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The head of Sweden’s trade union confederation urges the central bank to cut interest rates to support the slowing economy and says union demands for wage hikes would not trigger inflation. Sweden’s economy, which had been one of the most robust in Europe, is slowing sharply. The central bank has indicated that rates are more likely to fall next year than rise but has been reluctant to lower borrowing costs because it is worried about high levels of household debt. …
Canada aims to balance budget in 2015, eyes targeted investments
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Thursday h e is aiming to wipe out the federal budget deficit by 2015, in time for the next election, but cautioned the Conservative government would be flexible with that target if the economy soured. "It remains our intention to balance the budget during this session of Parliament," Flaherty said in the prepared text of a speech he was delivering in Toronto. "Although we are prepared to be flexible and pragmatic should circumstances warrant — our plan is to stick to our plan: balanced budgets and low taxes," he said. … Italian journalists to strike over defamation bill
ROME (Reuters) – Italian journalists plan to strike next week to protest against a law that would send them to jail for defamation but would let editors off with a fine, the journalists’ union said on Thursday. The Senate earlier passed an amendment to a bill that would set a maximum sentence of a year in jail for anyone convicted of defamation, while editors-in-chief and managing editors face a maximum fine of 50,000 euros ($64,400) or 20,000 euros respectively. The measure must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies to become law. …
France asks Russia to review "ostentatious" Paris church
PARIS/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has suspended its bid for a permit to build an Orthodox church with five domes on the Seine riverbank in Paris, the French government said, after the mayor of the world’s most visited city labeled the project a showy eyesore. Ahead of a Paris visit next week by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, France’s culture and foreign ministries said in a joint statement that Moscow had agreed to review the plan, which is close to President Vladimir Putin’s heart. …
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