Chinese activists push for safer factories after blast
HONG KONG (Reuters) – More than a dozen Chinese labor rights groups are circulating a petition pushing for safer factory working conditions, in a bid to capitalize on public anger over the worst industrial accident in more than year.
China detains man for spreading panic on WeChat: state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have detained someone for the first time for spreading panic on mobile messaging app WeChat, state media said on Friday, hours after China imposed new rules on instant messaging tools.
Italy Senate approves first reading of constitutional reform
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian Senate on Friday approved a first reading of a highly contested constitutional reform, drawing a line under a draining parliamentary battle which had absorbed government attention while pressure grew for faster action on th…
Cambodia political foes vow to honor truce as lawmakers return
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Opposition lawmakers returned to Cambodia’s parliament on Friday after a year-long boycott and vowed along with the ruling party to bury the hatchet and work for the country after a bitter dispute over an election last year.
Erdogan poised to win Turkey’s first popular presidential vote
ANKARA (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan is set to secure his place in history as Turkey’s first popularly-elected president on Sunday, but his tightening grip on power has polarized the nation, worried Western allies and raised fears of creeping authoritaria…
Parents of India rape victim decry fashion shoot that evokes attack
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – An Indian fashion shoot depicting a woman being sexually assaulted on a bus has stirred memories of the fatal gang rape of a young woman in 2012, outraging the victim’s parents and activists who have demanded ac…
China frees prominent lawyer who defended religious freedom
BEIJING (Reuters) – China freed a prominent human rights lawyer after three years in prison on Thursday, his brother told Reuters, ending the latest period of detention for the religious-freedom campaigner whose treatment attracted international condem…
Ukraine says ceasefire at MH17 crash site still in force
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s government said on Friday the ceasefire with separatist rebels at the crash site of Malaysian airliner MH17 was still in force despite an announcement that it would be suspended until recovery work there resumed.
Gaza rocket fire towards Israel resumes as ceasefire expires
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian militants resumed firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Friday, Israeli police and municipal officials said, after a 72-hour ceasefire expired.
No deal in Gaza talks in final hour, Palestinians could reject: source
CAIRO (Reuters) – No deal has been reached in Egyptian-mediated talks over Gaza an hour before a 72-hour ceasefire is due to expire and Palestinian factions could reject an extension of the truce under the current terms, a Palestinian source in Cairo s…
