Pope Francis may make South Korea his first Asia visit in August
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis is considering a trip to South Korea in August to meet with young Catholics, a Vatican spokesman said on Wednesday, in what would be his first visit to Asia where membership of the Church is increasing.
Exclusive: Iran’s oil sales rise as sanctions pressure eases – sources
LONDON (Reuters) – Iran’s oil exports have picked up modestly in January for the third consecutive month, according to sources who track tanker movements, adding to signs that the easing of sanctions pressure on Tehran is helping its oil exports to rec…
Latvia’s first female PM pledges to stick to fiscal discipline
RIGA (Reuters) – The Latvian parliament approved on Wednesday the country’s first woman prime minister, Laimdota Straujuma, who pledged to stick to the fiscal discipline of the previous cabinet and to push ahead with liberalizing the country’s gas mark…
Iran’s Rouhani to address Western oil CEOs in Davos
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Iranian President Hasan Rouhani will address a panel of top global oil executives on Thursday as the Islamic Republic steps up efforts to win back investments from oil companies as part of its rapprochement with the West….
EU, U.S. warn Romania over pressure on judges
BRUSSELS/BUCHAREST (Reuters) – The European Union and the United States told Romania on Wednesday to end political pressure on judges amid increased concerns about the rule of law in one of the EU’s most corrupt member states.
Japan’s former PM challenges Abe’s energy policy in Tokyo race
TOKYO (Reuters) – Former Japanese premier Morihiro Hosokawa pledged on Wednesday to push the nation to abandon nuclear power if elected governor of Tokyo next month in a race that could affect Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s energy policy and political clo…
Time to end al Qaeda presence in Falluja: Iraq’s Maliki
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday it was time to clear al Qaeda-linked militants out of the rebel-held city of Falluja, but set no deadline for any military assault.
Hong Kong mother accused of beating maids with mops, clothes hangers gets bail
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong mother of two who a court heard punched her maids, beat them with mops and threatened to kill their relatives was released on bail on Wednesday after she was formally charged in a case that has triggered outrage.
Texas to execute Mexican national in face of diplomatic protest
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Texas is set to execute Mexican national Edgar Tamayo on Wednesday for killing a Houston police officer in 1994 despite objections from the Mexican government, which said implementing the death penalty would violate internatio…
Thai capital under emergency as pro-government leader shot and wounded in northeast
UDON THANI, Thailand (Reuters) – A leading pro-government activist was shot and wounded on Wednesday in Thailand’s northeast, a stronghold of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as a state of emergency began in the capital where protesters are trying t…
