China celebrates Mao’s birthday, but events scaled back
BEIJING (Reuters) – China celebrated the 120th birthday of Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China, on Thursday, but with scaled-back festivities as President Xi Jinping embarks on broad economic reforms that have unsettled leftists.
Egypt arrests dozens under new anti-terror law
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt increased pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, detaining at least 38 of its supporters on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organization the day after it was declared one by the government, security officials said…
Thai government rejects call to delay election after clashes erupt
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government rejected a call from the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday to postpone a February vote after clashes between police and anti-government protesters in which a policeman was killed and nearly 100 people were h…
Inside Germany’s campaign to free Khodorkovsky
BERLIN/MOSCOW (Reuters) – One spring day in 2011 five people gathered around a small table at the Adlon Hotel in Berlin and hatched the beginnings of a plan to get former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky out of prison.
Israeli court cancels mayoral vote in town divided by religion
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli court dealt a blow on Thursday to the ultra-Orthodox community’s political hold over a town that has been a focus of national divisions between the Jewish state’s secular majority and its religious minority.
Rebel group attack kills 40 in eastern Congo
KINSHASA (Reuters) – At least 40 civilians have been killed in a rebel attack on a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials and civil society groups said.
Plane crash in Siberia kills nine people: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian plane crashed in Siberia on Thursday, killing nine people, domestic news agencies reported, citing local emergency service officials.
Indian court rejects riots petition against vote front-runner Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian court upheld on Thursday the result of an investigation that cleared Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi of complicity in riots in 2002, giving the opposition politician a boost as he runs for prime minister.
Plane crash in Siberia kills six crew: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A plane crashed in eastern Russia on Thursday, killing all six crew members, Interfax news agency reported, citing a local emergency services official.
Tribesmen seize oil ministry building in east Yemen
ADEN (Reuters) – Tribesmen seized an oil ministry building in Yemen’s eastern Hadramout province on Thursday and exchanged gunfire with a pro-government tribe seeking to regain control of the premises, tribal sources and ministry employees said.
