Japan minister denies ties to hate speech group, government says
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese cabinet minister did not know that people with whom she was photographed years ago belonged to a right-wing group now known for “hate speech” demos, a government spokesman said on Thursday, the third recent case of politica…
Unborn baby of U.S. suspect in Bali suitcase murder gets a lawyer
DENPASAR Indonesia (Reuters) – An U.S. woman detained on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in connection with the murder of her mother has retained legal representation for her unborn child, the suspect’s legal team said.
Polo becomes hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific Coast
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Tropical storm Polo became a hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Wednesday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre said, with maximum sustained winds of almost 75 miles per hour (120 kph) expected to strengthen.
Former Mexico official pleads guilty in corruption probe
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – A former top official in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, whose case became a symbol of Mexican government corruption, has pleaded guilty in Texas to federal money laundering charges, according to court documents.
House votes to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives approved President Barack Obama’s plan on Wednesday to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels, but questions remain over whether it will give them the advanced weapons they say they need to defeat …
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford diagnosed with rare cancer
(Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has a very rare and aggressive type of cancerous tumor in his abdomen, his doctor said on Wednesday, and the controversial municipal leader will start chemotherapy treatment within days.
Australia police launch massive ‘counter-terrorism’ raids
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Hundreds of heavily armed police raided homes in Sydney and Brisbane before dawn on Thursday, launching a large-scale Australian “counter-terrorism operation” just days after the country raised its national terror threat level to hig…
Divided, Scots prepare to vote on fate of the United Kingdom
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Just hours before Scotland’s independence referendum, the fate of the United Kingdom rests on hundreds of thousands of wavering Scottish voters, as opinion polls showed supporters of the 307-year union just a whisker ahead of sece…
Islamic State campaign tests Obama’s commitment to Mideast allies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After about 15 hours of flying and five hours of meetings, sleep finally caught up with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Baghdad. It was 6:04 p.m. 
Nuclear deal elusive as Iran, six powers resume talks in New York
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A diplomatic breakthrough is unlikely on a nuclear deal to end sanctions against Iran when talks resume in New York this week between Tehran and six world powers deadlocked after a year of negotiations.
