Spurred by Myanmar radicals, Thai Buddhists push for state religion status
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A campaign to enshrine Buddhism as Thailand’s state religion has been galvanized by a radical Buddhist movement in neighboring Myanmar that is accused of stoking religious tension, the leader of the Thai bid said.
No proof Russian plane broke up in mid-air: Egyptian authorities
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said on Tuesday there were no facts to substantiate assertions by Russian officials that the Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday broke up in mid-air.
Taiwan, China leaders to hold historic meeting in Singapore on Saturday
TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) – The presidents of Taiwan and China will meet in Singapore on Saturday to discuss cross-strait issues, Taiwan’s presidential office said, in the first such meeting of leaders from the two sides since the Chinese civil war ende…
Pope still faces stiff resistance to reform Vatican, new books say
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Two new books by Italian journalists depict a Vatican plagued by mismanagement, greed, cronyism and corruption and where Pope Francis still faces stiff resistance from the old guard to his reform agenda.
Argentina’s opposition camp fights fear-mongering with humor
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – If Argentina’s opposition hopeful Mauricio Macri wins the presidency in the Nov. 22 run-off, he will make minced meat out of Bambi and the ozone layer will disappear, according to a new campaign poking fun at the ruling party’s…
Thousands march in Romania as toll from nightclub fire reaches 32
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Thousands of people protested across Romania on Tuesday, demanding cabinet resignations as the death toll from a nightclub fire reached 32, with dozens more people in hospital critically hurt.
Chinese yuan’s diplomatic charge covers commercial retreat
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Even as the International Monetary Fund prepares to accept China’s yuan in its basket of reserve currencies, a major diplomatic victory for Beijing’s campaign to internationalize the currency, foreign companies are growing more ske…
Russia: impolite to begin U.N. chief race without Ukraine, others
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia said on Tuesday it does not want to offend Ukraine and other recently elected United Nations Security Council members by officially launching the race for a new secretary-general before the Jan. 1 start of their counci…
Exclusive: Vatican inspectors suspect key office was used for money laundering
VATICAN CITY(Reuters) – Vatican financial investigators suspect a department of the Holy See which oversees real estate and investments was used in the past for possible money laundering, insider trading and market manipulation, according to a report s…
U.S. Vice President Biden, EU’s Juncker discuss data pact: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and European Union Chief Executive Jean-Claude Juncker discussed the need to craft a new transatlantic data-sharing agreement during a phone call about a range of issues on Tuesday, the White House s…
