China tries five cult members for McDonald’s murder
BEIJING (Reuters) – China tried five members of a banned religious group on Thursday for the murder of a woman who was beaten to death at a McDonald’s restaurant after she refused to give them her telephone number when they apparently tried to recruit …
Philippine Muslim rebels take crucial step on path to pact
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group has taken a crucial step in ending decades of conflict, formally submitting to the president a final proposal for self-rule that both it and the government have agreed on, a presidential ad…
Australia’s highest court to hear test case on asylum seekers
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s highest court set a date on Thursday for a full hearing into how a group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers were detained at sea, a case that will test the government’s authority to pursue its secretive immigration policies.
Malaysian militants bought bomb material for planned attack: official
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Suspected Malaysian militants loyal to the extremist Islamic State movement bought bomb-making material ahead of a proposed attack on a Carlsberg brewery near the capital Kuala Lumpur, a top anti-terrorism official said.
Saudi Arabia sentences 18 to jail for militant offences
RIYADH (Reuters) – A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced 18 men to prison terms of 10 months to 25 years for their part in a series of militant attacks against government and foreign targets between 2003-06, state media reported late on Wednesday.
Petrobras worker dies from burns in refinery explosion
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – A worker severely burned in an accident at a Petrobras refinery in the Brazilian city of Manaus died of his injuries on Wednesday, union officials representing workers at the company said.
Afghanistan gives NYT reporter 24 hours to leave country
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan has given a New York Times reporter 24 hours to leave the country, accusing him of not cooperating with an investigation into his reporting, the Attorney General’s office said on Wednesday.
Brazil’s Silva launches bid, threatens Rousseff re-election
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Environmentalist Marina Silva officially launched a bid for president on Wednesday, upending Brazil’s October elections and threatening the ruling Workers’ Party’s 12-year hold on power.
Opposition leader Khan opens talks with Pakistan government over protests
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Opposition leader Imran Khan opened negotiations Wednesday with the Pakistani government, a lawmaker from his party said, in an effort to end protests against the prime minister and overcome a political impasse.
China says Australian tycoon’s attack ‘irrational and absurd’
BEIJING/SYDNEY (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry has condemned a verbal attack by Australian mining mogul and politician Clive Palmer as irrational and absurd, after the businessman described China’s government as “bastards” who shoot their own peop…
