South African lawmakers chant ‘pay back the money’ at Zuma
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa’s national assembly was brought to a halt on Thursday as far-left lawmakers noisily chanted “pay back the money” at President Jacob Zuma, after $23 million in public funds was spent on his home.
Indonesia court upholds Widodo presidential victory
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s highest court on Thursday unanimously upheld last month’s presidential election result, paving the way for Joko Widodo to take over as leader of the world’s third largest democracy.
U.S. lawyer tells Bali suitcase murder suspects to keep quiet until he arrives
DENPASAR Indonesia (Reuters) – A U.S. attorney advised an American teen and her boyfriend not to make any statements about the death of the woman’s mother whose body was found in a suitcase on the resort island of Bali until he arrives, an Indonesian l…
Syria sees Islamist threat bringing detente with West, but not soon
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria is wagering that Islamic State’s push to reshape the Middle East will eventually force a hostile West to deal with President Bashar al-Assad as the only way to tackle the threat.
Mramor set to return as Slovenian finance minister, new coalition taking shape
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenia’s next ruling party picked former finance minister Dusan Mramor on Thursday to head the finance ministry in a new center-left government that is due to be formed within weeks and aims to steer the euro zone member out of …
Hong Kong democracy stalemate sets stage for possible financial district shutdown
SHENZHEN China (Reuters) – Chinese officials and Hong Kong democrats failed on Thursday to resolve a standoff over political reforms in the freewheeling former British colony, a deadlock that could end up shutting down the city’s financial district nex…
Dozens die in Ukraine in street battles, Donetsk shelling
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Heavy shelling hit residential neighborhoods in Ukraine’s rebel stronghold of Donetsk and government forces fought street battles in other towns on Wednesday as they sought to crush a four-month-old separatist rebellion…
Thai junta leader appointed PM by hand-picked parliament
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha was appointed prime minister on Thursday by a legislature he hand-picked, giving the army chief a veneer of legitimacy even while the military presses on with efforts to silence its c…
Violence, threats, prompt more Muslim women in Britain to wear a veil
LONDON (Reuters) – When youth worker Sumreen Farooq was abused in a London street, the 18-year-old decided it was time to take a stand – and she started to wear a headscarf.
Protesters attack police as two Indian states fight over territory
GUWAHATI India (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters in the far-flung Indian state of Assam defied a curfew and attacked police in a fifth day of unrest over a territorial dispute with a neighboring state.
