Captain of doomed South Korea ferry says lack of checks was customary: Yonhap
SEOUL (Reuters) – The captain of a ferry that capsized in April in South Korea’s worst maritime accident in decades told a court on Friday he was just following established practice in not making safety checks before the vessel set off, Yonhap news age…
Three admit to murder of prominent Tibetan religious leader in China: lawyer
BEIJING (Reuters) – Three Tibetans in China have pleaded guilty to involvement in the death of a prominent religious leader and two other people, a lawyer representing the victims’ families said on Friday, in Tibet’s most closely watched murder case in…
Scotland’s pro-independence campaign gains on final TV debate: poll
LONDON (Reuters) – Support for Scottish independence has risen by 4 percent after the final TV debate before a breakaway referendum in less than three weeks’ time, one opinion poll showed on Friday, halving the anti-independence campaign’s lead.
Australia seeks Thai help for Aussie couples, surrogate babies
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Australia urged Thailand on Friday to allow Australian couples with babies born by Thai surrogate mothers to return home with their children following a crackdown on commercial surrogacy that has left many couples in limbo.
Somalia takes Kenya to U.N. court in oil rights row
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Somalia filed a suit against Kenya at the U.N.’s highest court, seeking to resolve a long-running dispute over lucrative oil reserves in the Indian Ocean.
Macau to ‘re-elect’ leader as democratic rumblings, mirroring Hong Kong, are stifled
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Macau chief executive Fernando Chui is widely expected to be “re-elected” on Sunday after the pro-China government stifled an unofficial referendum on democracy, taking a much harder line on the gambling hub than leaders have in n…
Volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea causes flight diversions
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea on Friday sent smoke and ash spewing high over the South Pacific island nation, leading some aircraft to alter their flight paths.
Exclusive: U.S. may use secrets act to stop suit against Iran sanctions group
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. government is considering using a powerful national security law to halt a private lawsuit against a non-profit group, United Against A Nuclear Iran, according to a source familiar with the case.
Accident traps at least 25 miners in Nicaragua, government-backed site says
MANAGUA (Reuters) – At least 25 miners were trapped in a gold mine in Nicaragua’s far north on Thursday after a collapse, a government-backed news website and other media reported, adding that rescue efforts would continue through the night.
With eye on China, Japan defense planners seek spending boost
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s defense planners are seeking their biggest budget ever for the coming fiscal year to pay for stealth fighters, drones and a hi-tech submarine, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bolsters the military amid an intensifying rivalry wit…
