India’s Modi pledges $70 million credit for Fiji sugar industry
SUVA (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday pledged a multi-million dollar line of credit for Fiji’s struggling sugar industry, once worked by thousands of indentured labourers from India under appalling conditions.
Australia’s Pauline Hanson returns to lead her anti-immigration party
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Controversial Australian former lawmaker Pauline Hanson, who flashed into prominence in the 1990s with populist right-wing policies designed to combat multiculturalism, has returned to lead the “One Nation” party she founded.
Mexico’s first lady says will sell house at center of scandal
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s first lady said on Tuesday she would give up a house at the center of a scandal that created a potential conflict of interest between President Enrique Pena Nieto and a company bidding for a lucrative rail contract.
Myanmar parliament chief throws doubt on Suu Kyi’s presidential chances
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s constitution cannot be changed until after next year’s general election, the speaker of parliament said, casting doubt on the chances of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi becoming president and the military’s political power …
Palestinians kill five in Jerusalem synagogue attack
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Two Palestinians armed with a meat cleaver and a gun killed five people in a Jerusalem synagogue on Tuesday before being shot dead by police, the deadliest such incident in six years in the holy city.
Honduran police detain two in search for missing beauty queen
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – Honduran police said on Tuesday they have detained two men for questioning as they hunt for a beauty queen reported missing just days before she was to leave for London to compete in the Miss World beauty pageant.
Solomon Islands stages first election since end of peacekeeping intervention
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Solomon Islands went to the polls on Wednesday in the first election since an Australian-led peacekeeping intervention ended in 2013, with officials hoping biometric voter registration will end endemic voter fraud in the South Pa…
Non-Muslim to be sworn in as Jakarta governor despite protests
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Jakarta’s first Christian governor in nearly 50 years is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, despite protests from religious hardliners opposing a non-Muslim taking over one of Indonesia’s most powerful political jobs.
China blames rise in violence on drug smuggling from Southeast Asia
BEIJING (Reuters) – An increase in the smuggling of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine from Southeast Asia has fueled a rise in violent crime in China this year, a state-run newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Australia tightens asylum seekers access, leaves refugees in Indonesia
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s conservative government on Wednesday defended its decision to stop asylum seekers passing through Indonesia from settling in Australia, a move that could leave Indonesia with thousands of refugees from the Middle East.
