It’s up to Dalai Lama whether he’ll be reborn, Buddhist leader says
BEIJING (Reuters) – It is up to the Dalai Lama to decide whether he will be reborn, Tibetan Buddhism’s third highest religious leader said, after Chinese officials repeatedly said the exiled Dalai Lama had no right to abandon reincarnation.
Sarkozy aims for French party of ‘Republicans’
PARIS (Reuters) – Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy wants to rechristen his UMP party “The Republicans” – but more as part of a calculated bid to consolidate his own political comeback than in homage to similarly-named fellow U.S. conservatives.
Congo illegally detained, tortured pro-democracy activists: HRW
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Security forces in Democratic Republic of Congo have illegally detained and tortured pro-democracy advocates as part of a crackdown before a presidential election next year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.
Search area for Flight MH370 to double if plane not found
SYDNEY/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Government ministers from Australia, China and Malaysia on Thursday said they would double the search area for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 if wreckage is not found in the current target area.
UK voters count cost of living standards pain
BEDWORTH, England (Reuters) – Joe Terrence is the kind of voter, fed up with falling living standards, that David Cameron must try to win over if he is to remain Britain’s prime minister next month.
Microgrids and mobile tech bring solar power to rural Kenya
KAJIADO, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – In a dusty trading center at the foot of the Entasopia escarpment in Kenya’s Kajiado County, John Pambio is deeply engrossed in soldering together a customer’s phone at his electronics repair kiosk.
Philippines to file cases against 90 rebels over commandos’ deaths
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will file criminal cases against 90 Muslim rebels for the death of 35 police commandos during a deadly January clash in the south, the justice minister said on Thursday, to assuage a public outcry for justice.
Austrian president ‘likely’ to visit Iran this year
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian President Heinz Fischer will probably visit Iran this year and may take a business delegation along should Tehran clinch a definitive deal with world powers over its nuclear policy, he told a newspaper.
Ex-leader Gul says Turkey needs stronger parliament, not presidency
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey needs a better parliamentary system, not a more powerful presidency, former President Abdullah Gul said, in clear disagreement with his successor’s drive to change the constitution and give the head of state executive powers…
Angry and divided, South Korea mourns on anniversary of ferry disaster
ANSAN, South Korea (Reuters) – A day of mourning for the 304 victims of the Sewol ferry sinking was overtaken by acrimony on Thursday, as organizers called off a ceremony planned to mark its one-year anniversary to protest against the South Korean gove…
