Iranian cleric’s death leaves gap in key power body
ANKARA (Reuters) – The head of Iran’s top clerical body has died after lying in a coma for months, leaving a gap in the only institution that has the authority to elect and dismiss the country’s Supreme Leader.
Ukraine vote candidate survives gun and grenade attack: party
KIEV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian election candidate allied to the prime minister was shot at and came under a grenade attack as he left his home late on Monday, and only survived because he was wearing body armor, his party said.
Japan PM’s woes may not end despite resignations of two ministers
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing increased pressure from a newly energized opposition over potential scandals within his cabinet even though he swiftly jettisoned two ministers this week in a bid to calm the storm.
Nepoch drops ties with ‘princeling’ He Jintao: sources
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China private equity firm Nepoch Capital has erased its princeling backer He Jintao from the documents it shows investors after he was questioned in connection with a corruption investigation, sources have told Reuters.
Russian Energy Minister says hope for gas deal with Ukraine on Tuesday: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday he hopes to finalize gas agreement during a trilateral meeting later in the day in Brussels, Interfax news agency reports.
UK lawmaker tells PM Cameron: Ignore ‘daft’ anti-Europeans
LONDON (Reuters) – A senior Conservative lawmaker on Tuesday said Prime Minister David Cameron should ignore those “daft” enough to propose anti-immigration proposals that could hurt the British economy and pave the way for an exit from the European Un…
Unfinished war in Sri Lanka threatens paradise regained
JAFFNA Sri Lanka (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – In the fishing village of Oori, two mothers await news of their young daughters who were taken to a care home three months ago after their alleged rape by members of the Sri Lankan navy.
U.S. urges Japan to be ‘bold’ in Pacific trade pact talks
TOKYO (Reuters) – The time is “ripe” for Japan and the United States to reach a breakthrough in talks for a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, the U.S. commerce secretary said on Tuesday, adding that the two were “a lot closer” to a deal than in rec…
Australia drops investigation into Indonesia ‘Balibo Five’ murders
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police said on Tuesday they were dropping a long-running war crimes investigation into the deaths of five Australian journalists, killed during Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor in 1975.
Australia set to help China seize assets of corrupt Chinese officials: reports
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police have agreed to assist China in the extradition and seizure of assets of corrupt Chinese officials who have fled with hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit funds, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported.
