Ousted Thai PM defends rice scheme in open letter to junta leader
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Ousted Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sent an open letter to junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday defending her position in a case involving rice subsidies that hemorrhaged billions of dollars and could see her jaile…
Japan’s first commercial jet in 50 years makes maiden flight
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s first commercial jet in half a century made its maiden flight on Wednesday, in a breakthrough for the country’s long-held ambition to establish an aircraft industry that can compete with some of the major players in global avi…
Kenyan journalist detained over writing about corruption
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan police on Tuesday arrested a journalist who wrote about corruption at the Interior Ministry, drawing accusations from media groups that the government was trying to trample free speech.
Migrants go on hunger strike at Czech detention center: volunteers
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Dozens of migrants launched a hunger strike in one of the detention centers in the Czech Republic on Tuesday to protest against the duration of their stay, volunteers visiting the facility said.
Pact for U.S.-Cuba flights seen by year-end: Cuban official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and Cuba are likely to announce agreements by the end of the year for restoring long-suspended scheduled airline flights and postal service between the two countries, a senior Cuban official said on Tuesday.
China: ‘Bad idea’ for U.N. council to discuss North Korea rights
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it would be a “bad idea” for the United Nations Security Council to revive discussions on human rights in North Korea, which has been accused by a U.N. inquiry of abuses comparable to Nazi-era atrocities…
Anger at burst dams in Brazil focuses on Vale, mining code
MARIANA, Brazil (Reuters) – As despair turns to anger over a deadly dam burst at a Brazilian mine, lawmakers pushed on Tuesday for tougher regulations in a new mining code and iron ore giant Vale SA came under pressure to help mourning families and con…
OAS chief slams Venezuela over election observation
CARACAS (Reuters) – The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday severely criticized the head of Venezuela’s electoral board in a harshly-worded letter saying authorities were failing to ensure fair elections in Decembe…
Niger police seize bomb-making materials in passenger bus
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Security forces in Niger’s volatile northern region of Agadez have seized large quantities of bomb components being transported in a passenger bus, a local government official said on state-owned radio late on Tuesday.
Three men killed in Jordan attack worked for U.S. security firm
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three men killed in Monday’s shooting attack at a police training center near Amman Jordan worked for DynCorp International, an American intelligence and security contractor, the company said on Tuesday.
