China court grants death sentence reprieve to abuse victim
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court granted a woman who killed her husband after years of abuse a two-year death sentence reprieve, state media said on Friday, a move cautiously welcomed by human rights activists.
Fired up by king, Zulu nationalism confronts modern South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A crowd of stick-wielding supporters at a soccer stadium roared their approval as South Africa’s Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, insisted he was not behind a wave of violence against migrant workers he had compared a month befo…
Tokyo finds high levels of radiation in children’s park
TOKYO (Reuters) – Authorities in the Japanese capital have cordoned off a playground where high levels of radiation were detected this week, reviving concerns about nuclear contamination four years after the Fukushima disaster.
Pakistan’s MQM wins by-election, dismisses talk of troubles
KARACHI (Reuters) – The Pakistani party that has long dominated politics in the commercial hub of Karachi won a seat in a closely watched by-election, poll officials said on Friday, and dismissed talk its fortunes are flagging.
No big changes planned for junta-ruled Thailand’s draft constitution
BANGKOK (Reuters) – No major changes are planned to Thailand’s draft constitution, a spokesman for the committee pulling it together said on Friday, despite criticism from politicians that it is undemocratic as the one-year anniversary of a military co…
Mexico’s Congress approves reform allowing foreign agents to bear arms
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Congress approved a legal reform on Thursday that will allow foreign immigration and customs agents to bear arms while in the country, an issue that has been a source of tension with the United States.
Costa Rica closes San Jose airport due to volcanic ash
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Authorities in Costa Rica temporarily closed the airport in the capital city San Jose on Thursday after the eruption of the Turrialba volcano, the company which operates the airport said.
China draft law lets foreign NGOs open offices with government OK
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The Chinese legislature has amended a draft law on international non-governmental organizations to give them special permission to set up branches in China, after an earlier draft sparked concerns of a crackdown.
Taiwan ruling party says chief to meet China’s Xi Jinping
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Chinese President and Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will hold talks with the chairman of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang (KMT) in Beijing next month, the KMT said on Friday, in what would be the first meeting between the heads of the t…
Biden, seeking to ease U.S.-Israel strains, pledges delivery of new warplanes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Seeking to ease U.S.-Israeli tensions, Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday promised Israel delivery of top-flight fighter jets next year to maintain its military edge and vowed that any final nuclear deal with Iran would ensure Israel’s security.
