Lawyers boycott trial of prominent Chinese activist
GUANGZHOU China (Reuters) – Lawyers representing a prominent Chinese activist boycotted the start of a long-delayed trial in protest over procedural irregularities on Friday which was then adjourned, in a closely watched case as China clamps down on ri…
Thai PM aims to broaden tax base, bring in inheritance tax
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said on Friday his military-backed government aimed to broaden the tax base in the new fiscal year from October, bringing in an inheritance tax among other changes.
Putin holds key to Ukraine peace but keeps world guessing
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin took a break from his official duties to slip into a Russian Orthodox Church this week and light a candle for fighters killed in eastern Ukraine.
Blockaded Gaza faces huge challenges to rebuild after war
GAZA/NAHAL OZ Israel (Reuters) – Fifty days of war in one of the most densely populated parts of the world have left swathes of Gaza in ruins. With the economy reeling under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, the enclave now faces an almost impossible task …
U.S. teen faces new questioning in grisly Bali suitcase murder
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A U.S. teenager detained in Bali in connection with the grisly murder of her mother was due to be questioned for a second time on Friday after so far refusing to answer questions, police said.
Special Report: China turns up heat on ex-security chief with crash probe
BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Little is known about the exact circumstances in which Wang Shuhua was killed. What has been reported, in the Chinese media, is that she died in a road accident sometime in 2000, shortly after she was divorced from her hus…
Venezuela extends night closure of Colombia border to stop smuggling
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela said on Thursday it would extend an overnight closure of its border with neighboring Colombia for another three months in a campaign to stop widespread fuel and food smuggling.
Catalans form human V for Vote to seek choice on split from Spain
BARCELONA Spain (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of Catalans packed the streets of Barcelona on Thursday to demand the right to vote on a potential split from Spain, their ambitions boosted by an independence referendum scheduled for next week in Scot…
Venezuela extends night closure of Colombia border to stop smuggling
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela said on Thursday it would extend an overnight closure of its border with neighboring Colombia for another three months in a campaign to stop widespread fuel and food smuggling.
Scottish support for independence slips behind unionists a week before vote: poll
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Supporters of keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom have clawed back a 4 percentage point lead over separatists, a YouGov poll showed on Friday with just a week to go before Scots vote in a referendum on independence.
