Hundreds of thousands vote in Hong Kong democracy ‘poll’ in defiance of Beijing
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Nearly 600,000 votes have been cast in three days of an unofficial referendum on democratic reforms in Hong Kong, part of a civil campaign that has been branded illegal by the former British colony and by Communist Party authoriti…
Cruise ship carrying nearly 200 people evacuated in Netherlands
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A cruise ship carrying 154 passengers and 40 crew was evacuated after it sprang a leak on a river in the eastern Netherlands early on Sunday morning, emergency services said.
Mud flung as Indonesia presidential race heats up
JAKARTA (Reuters) – One of the two hopefuls in Indonesia’s presidential election has been accused of being a closet Christian, the other of being a foreigner and unfit to lead the nation.
Cuffed knifeman ‘apologizes’ for holy war assault in China’s Xinjiang
BEIJING (Reuters) – One of the assailants who carried out an attack in western China that injured four people has apologized and said other members of his group had convinced him to participate in a “holy war”, state media said late on Saturday.
Syrian jets bomb eastern rebel towns near Iraq, at least 16 dead
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian jets bombed on Saturday rebel-held eastern areas close to the border with Iraq under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, killing and injuring dozens in stepped up raids against the militant group since its …
Mauritanians vote in presidential poll amid opposition boycott
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) – Mauritanians voted on Saturday in an election certain to return President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to office for another five years, but he struggled to secure a turnout high enough to give him a convincing mandate amid a poll boy…
Belarus releases human rights activist ahead of time
MINSK (Reuters) – Belarus on Saturday unexpectedly freed leading rights activist Ales Belyatsky, whose jailing for tax evasion in November 2011 prompted an outcry in the European Union and human rights circles.
Egypt upholds death sentence on Brotherhood leader, nearly 200 supporters
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court confirmed death sentences on Saturday against the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 182 supporters, in a mass trial of Islamists who ruled Egypt for a year but face a fierce crackdown under the new president, Abde…
Brazil’s Rousseff picked by party for tough election October 5
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party formally nominated President Dilma Rousseff on Saturday to run for re-election in October in what is shaping up to be its toughest race since winning power in 2002.
Poroshenko’s Ukraine peace plan gets limited support from Putin
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Saturday voiced limited support for Ukraine’s unilateral ceasefire in its conflict with pro-Russian separatists, but told President Petro Poroshenko there had to be talks with the rebels to prevent the…
