South Africa’s Gordhan declines to comment on ANC backing
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan declined on Thursday to say whether he was confident of the political support of the ruling ANC, less than a week before he must answer fraud charges in court.
Australian theme park owner to speak to families as it counts cost of deaths
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s Ardent Leisure Group, the owner of a theme park where four people were killed on a water ride, said it would speak to the victims’ families on Thursday as it defended its safety practices amid intense criticism.
Russia says its planes, and Syria’s, have not flown over Aleppo for nine days
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian and Syrian warplanes have not flown closer than 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) of Syria’s Aleppo for nine days, the Russian defense ministry said on Thursday.
Japan, U.S., South Korea agree to put more pressure on North Korea – Japan official
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed on Thursday to work together to put more pressure on North Korea to get it to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama said.
Abe has chance to be Japan’s longest-ruling PM after rule change
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has a chance to stay in power through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and become the country’s longest-ruling leader after his party decided this week to allow its presidents to serve a third straight three-…
U.S. says two top al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan targeted in strikes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States carried out strikes in Afghanistan on Sunday targeting two of al Qaeda’s most senior leaders in the country, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Nigerian activist held in solitary in Japan, prompting calls for her release
TOKYO (Reuters) – A prominent Nigerian asylum seeker and activist is being held in solitary at a Tokyo detention center, a case that has highlighted a growing crackdown on foreigners living in Japan without visas and prompted demands for her release.
Japan’s Prince Mikasa, oldest imperial family member, dies at 100
TOKYO (Reuters) – The 100-year-old uncle of Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prince Mikasa, died on Thursday, leaving only four heirs to the Chrysanthemum throne, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Museum opens to pay tribute to China’s “comfort women”
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A museum dedicated to Chinese “comfort women”, as those who were forced to work in Japan’s wartime brothels were euphemistically known, opened in Shanghai this month.
Islamic State holds up Iraqi army south of Mosul
QAYYARA/BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters kept up on Wednesday their fierce defense of the southern approaches to Mosul, which has held up Iraqi troops there and forced an elite army unit east of the city to put a more rapid advance on h…
