Ghost towns haunt South Africa’s strike-hit platinum belt
MARIKANA, South Africa (Reuters) – Shad Mohammed’s electronics and household store in South Africa’s platinum belt has survived a series of mining strikes over the 14 years it has been serving customers in the dusty town of Marikana.
U.S. to skip China fleet review after Japan shunned
HONOLULU (Reuters) – The United States is scrapping plans for a Navy ship to join a fleet review in China after key ally, Japan, was not invited, U.S. officials said on Thursday, in a move that came just ahead of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s trip to…
Cargo ship sinks off South Korea, 11 North Korean crew missing
SEOUL (Reuters) – A Mongolian-flagged cargo ship has sunk off the southern coast of South Korea, with most of the 16 North Korean crew members on board missing, South Korean coast guard officials said on Friday.
U.S. warns China not to attempt Crimea-style action in Asia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China should not doubt the U.S. commitment to defend its Asian allies and the prospect of economic retaliation should also discourage Beijing from using force to pursue territorial claims in Asia in the way Russia has in Crimea, …
Mongolian-flagged cargo ship with North Korean crew sinks off South Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – A Mongolian-flagged cargo ship with 16 North Korean crew members has sunk off the southern coast of South Korea, a South Korean coast guard official said on Friday.
Anti-Assad allies rebuff Syrian presidential election plan
PARIS (Reuters) – International powers who support the Syrian opposition have firmly rebuffed any idea of a presidential election organized by the Syrian government in the midst of a civil war, describing the plans as a “parody of democracy” that would…
Ukraine accuses ex-president over sniper deaths
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s prime minister on Thursday blamed ousted President Viktor Yanukovich for the deaths of dozens of anti-government protesters shot by police snipers and urged Russia to hand him over to face charges.
Costa Rica leftist seen clinching presidency in one-horse race
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Costa Rica’s center-left presidential candidate Luis Guillermo Solis is expected to cruise to victory in Sunday’s run-off election after his ruling party rival quit campaigning in a bizarre twist last month.
Algeria’s Bouteflika meets with Kerry, talks security
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, discussing better security cooperation in the Maghreb region in one of his longest appearances since a stroke a year ago.
Weary Chileans head for hills as earthquake aftershocks continue
IQUIQUE, Chile (Reuters) – As the aftershocks from a massive 8.2 magnitude quake that rattled northern Chile entered a third day on Thursday, basic services were still out in the port city nearest the epicenter and residents fearful of tsunamis were fl…
