China points to social welfare reforms needed for urbanization drive
BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Among the issues China’s top leaders tackled this week as they hammered out their policy roadmap, some may determine whether children attending the likes of the Pengying school in Beijing fulfill their dreams.
Fukushima: now for the tough part
TOKYO (Reuters) – The operator of Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant will as early as this week begin removing 400 tonnes of highly irradiated spent fuel in a hugely delicate and unprecedented operation fraught with risk.
Egypt court rules post-Mursi state of emergency ended
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court ruled a three-month state of emergency be lifted on Tuesday, a step that may help the army-backed government restore a semblance of normality after the military ousted President Mohamed Mursi.
Two Americans kidnapped from ship off Nigeria released
ABUJA (Reuters) – Two Americans who were kidnapped from their ship by pirates off the coast of Nigeria last month have been released, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford bobblehead becomes instant collector’s item
TORONTO (Reuters) – Hundreds of people lined up at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday to buy a limited-edition bobblehead doll of embattled Mayor Rob Ford, and by mid-afternoon some were on sale on eBay for more than 10 times their purchase price.
Bulgarian leaders condemn attacks on immigrants
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s president and prime minister on Tuesday condemned a rise in attacks on immigrants following an influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, in a rare joint statement.
Saudi rejects U.N. Security Council seat, opening way for Jordan
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia officially notified the United Nations on Tuesday of its decision to reject a seat on the U.N. Security Council, which U.N. diplomats said clears the way for the likely election of Jordan as a replacement.
Iranian foreign minister blames West for snag in nuclear talks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s pinning of blame on Iran for the lack of a deal on its nuclear program last week, saying splits between Western countries prevented a breakthr…
Philippine president puts typhoon death toll at 2,000 to 2,500
TACLOBAN, Philippines (Reuters) – The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan’s rampage through the Philippines is closer to 2,000 or 2,500 than the 10,000 previously estimated, President Benigno Aquino said on Tuesday as U.S. and British warships headed toward…
China, Cuba, Russia, Saudi elected to top U.N. rights body
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday won three-year seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, the United Nations’ top rights body, despite concerns about abuses and restrictions on freedoms in all four nation…
