Local vote to test Venezuelan president’s strength
CARACAS (Reuters) – Nationwide local polls this weekend are President Nicolas Maduro’s first electoral test since taking power and will show what Venezuelans think of his socialist government’s radical response to deepening economic problems.
Hurricane Xaver batters Scotland as Germany braces for storm
BERLIN/LONDON (Reuters) – Hurricane-force winds disrupted transport and power supplies in Scotland and threatened coastal flooding in England as they closed on northern Europe in what meteorologists said could be one of the most powerful storms to hit …
Japan state secrets bill on track to become law despite protests
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese state secrets bill toughening penalties for leaks came a step closer to becoming law on Thursday when ruling parties forced it through a parliamentary panel amid protests it will muzzle the media and help cover up official …
China’s airspace zone has caused apprehension: Biden
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s new air defense identification zone over the East China Sea has caused “significant” unease in the region, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday, adding he had stated Washington’s firm objection to the move during t…
Seven dead in car bomb attack on armed convoy in northern Somalia
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) – Seven people were killed in a car bomb attack in northern Somalia on Thursday on an armed convoy escorting two foreigners working for a company training local security forces.
Legal group faults Pakistan’s top judge as inconsistent
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s flamboyant chief justice has strengthened human rights but his inconsistent choice of cases has left the Supreme Court vulnerable to accusations of partisan intervention, a global group of 60 eminent judges and lawyers …
Sorting out Mali isn’t our job, France says
PARIS (Reuters) – France will not play Africa’s policeman and sort out a territorial dispute in Mali, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Thursday, a day after Mali’s president and Tuareg separatist rebels both criticized Paris for doing too little…
Egypt refers three leading activists to trial for protesting
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s public prosecutor referred leading political activist Ahmed Maher to trial on Thursday on charges including protesting without permission, a judicial official said.
Japan state secrets bill on track to become law despite protests
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese state secrets bill toughening penalties for leaks came a step closer to becoming law on Thursday when ruling parties forced it through a parliamentary panel amid protests it will muzzle the media and help cover up official …
Car bomb explodes in Somalia’s Puntland region: witnesses
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded in the northern Somali city of Bosasso on Thursday, witnesses said.
