Hundreds flee homes as heatwave fans Australia bushfires
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Extreme heat and high winds fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia on Friday, prompting hundreds to flee their homes in some of the worst conditions seen since Black Saturday in 2009.
Japan stands by apologies for war aggression as textbook row re-emerges
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan stands by previous government statements acknowledging and apologizing for its aggression in World War Two, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday as tension mounts again with China.
Eastern Chinese province first to ease one-child policy
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s wealthy eastern province of Zhejiang became the first to implement a new landmark relaxation of the country’s strict one-child policy on Friday, state media reported, allowing more parents to have a second child.
Madagascar court confirms ex-finance minister is president-elect
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar’s electoral court declared former finance minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina president-elect on Friday despite allegations by his defeated rival that the December run-off vote was rigged.
Top South Africa diplomat heads to Yemen to negotiate hostage release
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa is sending a top diplomat to Yemen to negotiate the release of one of its citizens being held hostage by al Qaeda-linked gunmen and threatened with imminent execution, the foreign ministry said on Friday.
South Korea rejects North’s call to halt drills with U.S.
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea on Friday rejected a call from the reclusive North to halt “provocative” military drills with the United States, saying that as a democracy it did not launch preemptive strikes.
Israel summons European envoys in settlement dispute
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has summoned envoys from four European states to protest their “one-sided” stand in favor of the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday, escalating a quarrel over Israeli settlements.
China decries foreign interference in detained academic case
BEIJING (Reuters) – China decried what it said was interference in its internal affairs on Friday after both the United States and European Union voiced concern over the detention of a high-profile ethnic Uighur academic from the restive western region…
China calls on Manila to meet it halfway on fishing rules
BEIJING (Reuters) – China called on the Philippines on Friday to meet it halfway on new Chinese fishing rules in the disputed South China Sea, adding that Beijing was always willing to make efforts to resolve such issues via talks.
China questions officials linked to ex-strongman in graft probe: sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese investigators have questioned more than a dozen senior officials, including the country’s top prosecutor, about links to retired domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, who is the subject of a corruption probe, sources said.
