Chinese man gets 14-month jail term for defacing Mao portrait
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court has sentenced a man to 14 months in jail for defacing the giant painting of Communist leader Mao Zedong displayed near Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, state media reported.
China’s Xi says backs fair, balanced agreement on Iran
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday that China would push for a “fair and balanced” nuclear agreement, a day after talks resumed between Iran and the European Union.
Five attacks foiled in France since Charlie Hebdo killings: PM
PARIS (Reuters) – French police have thwarted five attacks, including a suspected plan to target church-goers foiled in recent days, since the Islamist killings at a satirical weekly and Jewish food shop in January, Prime Minster Manuel Valls said on T…
China trial begins for ally of retired security chief
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A deposed leader of one of China’s most populous provinces chose not to contest charges of bribery and abuse of power when his trial opened on Thursday, the latest senior official linked to retired security boss Zhou Yongkang to be…
Protester killed in Peru during rally against Southern Copper project
AREQUIPA/LIMA, PERU (Reuters) – Clashes between police and opponents of Southern Copper Corp’s Tia Maria project in Peru left one protester dead on Wednesday as rallies calling for its cancellation spread in the region.
Campaign launches to elect first female U.N. Secretary-General
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Since its founding 70 years ago, the United Nations has been led by men, a tradition that some women’s rights advocates are determined to break when the global body elects a new secretary-general next year.
Puerto Rico officials warn government shutdown imminent
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Puerto Rico’s top finance officials said the government of the U.S. territory will likely shutdown in three months because of a looming liquidity crisis and warned of a devastating impact on the island’s economy.
U.S. says Russia air defense systems inside Ukraine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday accused Russia of building up air defense systems inside eastern Ukraine and of involvement in training exercises of pro-Russian rebels in breach of a European-brokered truce.
Drug cartel violence flares again in Northern Mexico state
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Drug cartel violence in Mexico’s Tamaulipas state flared up for the second time in a week on Wednesday, with gun battles and arson attacks erupting in the street after police captured four alleged drug gang members.
Volcano erupts in southern Chile, belching ash, smoke into sky
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Volcano Calbuco in southern Chile erupted for the first time in at least four decades on Wednesday, sending a thick plume of ash and smoke several kilometers (miles) into the sky, local television images showed.
