Coup-leader president’s candidate poised to win Madagascar vote
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – The candidate backed by Madagascar’s coup-leader President Andry Rajoelina held on Wednesday an apparently unassailable lead in the island’s run-off vote, which his rival’s camp has said was rigged.
Saudi morality police may relax rules on prayer times: paper
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s morality police may relax the kingdom’s strict rules on closing shops and businesses for prayer five times a day, the force’s head Sheikh Abdulatif Al al-Sheikh was quoted as saying by local press on Wednesday.
Lawyers claim fraud as Pakistan’s Musharraf goes on trial for treason
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Lawyers argued Wednesday that former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf could not receive a fair trial on treason charges, a case that could test the relationship between an increasingly assertive civilian government and th…
Thai PM returns to Bangkok as protest showdown looms
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra returned to the capital, Bangkok, on Wednesday for traditional New Year celebrations in a display of unity alongside military chiefs before a looming showdown with anti-government pr…
Japan minister follows Abe to war shrine, pouring salt on wound for China
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese cabinet member visited a shrine seen by critics as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression on Wednesday, pouring salt on a fresh wound after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pilgrimage there last week drew sharp criticism from Ch…
Thousands march in Hong Kong in escalating battle for democracy
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Thousands protested in Hong Kong on Wednesday pressing China to allow full democracy in the city as a battle intensifies over Beijing’s attempts to control the outcome of a planned direct election for the city’s leader in 2017.
Russia’s Putin meets Volgograd bombing victims
VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin met wounded victims of deadly suicide bombings in the southern Russian city of Volgograd on Wednesday, heaping condemnation on the attacks that raised security fears ahead of the Winter Olympics.
Ethnic Russian recruits to insurgency pose new threat before Olympics
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The suspected involvement of converts to Islam in Russian suicide bombings points to the growing reach of jihadists far beyond the Muslim provinces of Chechnya and Dagestan, where insurgency and separatism have simmered for two decad…
U.S. opposes planned release of 88 Afghan prisoners, adding to strains
KABUL (Reuters) – The United States wants Afghanistan to halt the release of 88 prisoners from an Afghan jail because they pose a serious threat to security, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, adding to strains between the two sides.
North Korean leader says purge was a cleansing of ‘filth’
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made his first reference to the execution of his powerful uncle in a New Year’s address, saying the reclusive state’s ruling party had become stronger after it was purged of “factional filth.”
