Myanmar president broadcasts democratic credentials in election push
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s President Thein Sein portrayed himself as a champion of free speech in a video released on Wednesday, adding to speculation he may look to serve a second term as a national election campaign hots up.
After jokes, applause at dinner, China’s Xi gets down to U.S. business
SEATTLE (Reuters) – A day after wooing Seattle’s elite with pop-culture jokes and promises of reform, Chinese President Xi Jinping gets down to business on Wednesday, meeting Apple Inc’s Tim Cook and other top tech executives.
U.S. woman says her detention in China for spy probe is about politics
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A Houston woman detained in China in a case the unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping began a state visit to the United States said she was being held over politics and not for any crime, according to a letter released on W…
Thriving mafia sucks hope from Italy’s struggling south
PALMI, Italy (Reuters) – Most southern Italian businessmen do not cross the ‘Ndrangheta mafia. Gaetano Saffioti did, and paid a high price.
Georgian soldier killed in attack near U.S. base in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – Insurgents in Afghanistan have killed a Georgian soldier in an attack on NATO forces near a major U.S. air base, NATO and Georgian officials said on Wednesday, a relatively rare death of a foreign soldier since most withdrew last year…
Nepal PM scraps U.N. trip to tackle protests over charter
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepal’s prime minister has canceled plans to attend a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, his spokesman said on Wednesday, in order to hold talks to end weeks of protests against a new constitution that have killed mor…
Kerry says Russian support for Assad risks confrontation
ROME (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday Russia’s military support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could raise the risk of confrontation with coalition forces fighting Islamic State there.
Islam’s pilgrims pray for peace in Muslim countries wracked by war
ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Millions of Muslim pilgrims congregated at Arafat outside Mecca on Wednesday, many of them praying for peace in the Middle East countries ravaged by war and chaos as the annual haj reached its climax.
India’s Modi eyes Silicon Valley on U.S. trip as euphoria fades
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Tech titans will court Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Silicon Valley this weekend, but away from the glitz, the euphoria of his first trip to the United States a year ago has faded as promised deals stall and key reforms f…
New Greek cabinet sworn in with few new faces
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s new cabinet was sworn in on Wednesday, bringing in few new faces as re-elected Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras sought continuity in pushing through economic reforms under the watchful eye of international lenders.
