Indian government says church attacks not political
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Hindu nationalist government has denied that “communal” politics were behind a series of attacks on churches and the rape of a nun in recent months, as it seeks to quell rising concerns among religious minorities.
New U.N. site for flights in conflict zones issues warnings on Libya, Egypt
BERLIN (Reuters) – A new United Nations website distributing warnings about risks to aircraft in conflict zones issued its first advisories on Wednesday, for countries including Libya, Iraq, Egypt and South Sudan.
Four Britons who sought to get to Syria arrested on return to UK
LONDON (Reuters) – Four Britons who were detained in Turkey on suspicion of trying to cross illegally into Syria were arrested on their return to England on Wednesday, police said.
Japan ruling party panel summons media bosses over news shows
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling party is summoning officials from two major media organizations for questioning about news shows, an aide to a lawmaker said, the latest in what some experts say is a push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration t…
Mexican court backs reporter fired after Pena Nieto property scoop
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A court ruling issued on Tuesday may force a broadcaster to negotiate the reinstatement of a high-profile journalist fired last month after helping uncover a scandal involving President Enrique Pena Nieto’s family.
India builds first ‘smart’ city as urban population swells
GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) – India’s push to accommodate a booming urban population and attract investment rests in large part with dozens of “smart” cities like the one being built on the dusty banks of the Sabarmati river in western India.
Poland’s President Komorowski leads as election nears
WARSAW (Reuters) – With less than one month to go before Poland’s presidential election, an IBRiS poll on Wednesday showed incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski ahead with a 42-percent backing, with his conservative challenger Andrzej Duda supported by 29 per…
China calls on Dalai Lama to ‘put aside illusions’ about talks
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday urged the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to “put aside his illusions” about talks on Tibet’s future, and accused him of insincerity and covertly pushing for independence, rather than autonomy.
Indonesian Islamic parties seek ban on alcohol consumption
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Two Islamic parties have proposed legislation to ban all consumption of alcoholic drinks and hand jail terms of up to two years to offenders in Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population.
Brazil’s president names progressive lawyer to Supreme Court
BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff nominated a law professor close to leftist social groups on Tuesday to sit on Brazil’s Supreme Court as it begins to investigate dozens of ruling coalition politicians for corruption.
