Lawyers for Vatican treasurer question accusers in Australian court
(Note: Language in paragraph 14 that might offend some readers)
Russia sees at least 100 civilians leaving eastern Ghouta on Thursday
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia expects at least 100 civilians on Thursday to leave Syria’s eastern Ghouta area, where another ceasefire has been declared, Interfax news agency reported.
Japan’s ‘sontaku’ clouds where the buck stops in school scandal
TOKYO (Reuters) – Figuring out who is to blame in a widening political scandal that threatens Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is being complicated by a practice known as “sontaku”, which loosely translates as “following unspoken orders”.
Hawking’s death triggers emotional goodbyes, tributes in China
BEIJING (Reuters) – The death of British physicist Stephen Hawking unleashed a flood of tearful goodbyes on Chinese social media while state television and newspapers paid tribute to the man who had featured in many a school essay in China over the yea…
Philippines says its exit marks ‘beginning of the end’ for ICC
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Thursday its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be “the beginning of the end” for the institution, as more countries would follow suit and non-members would be discouraged from joinin…
Hong Kong’s judges voice fears over China influence in judiciary
HONG KONG (Reuters) – As Hong Kong’s judges and senior lawyers paraded in ceremonial wigs and gowns on Jan 8 to mark the start of the legal year, anxieties over China’s growing reach into the city’s vaunted legal system swirled with the wintry winds.
China, Russia welcome Korean peace efforts with diplomacy in overdrive
SEOUL (Reuters) – China’s President Xi Jinping offered encouragement for South Korea’s initiative to nurture peaceful engagement with North Korea, and Russia also expressed support, the South Korean official leading diplomatic efforts said on Thursday….
Turkish foreign minister’s U.S. visit postponed: spokesman
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s planned visit to Washington on March 19 has been postponed, his spokesman said on Thursday, following the U.S. decision to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.
Japan finance minister to skip G20 amid parliamentary wrangling over suspected scandal
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso will not attend the Group of 20 finance leaders’ meeting in Buenos Aires next week due to parliamentary wrangling over altered documents in a suspected favoritism scandal, a ruling party source told …
Thai auto heir launches new party, promises to heal political rift
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A scion of Thailand’s biggest auto parts group launched a new political party in Bangkok on Thursday as an alternative to established parties, promising to bridge a festering political divide in the country.
