Central New Zealand shaken by strong quake, no injuries
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Central New Zealand, including the capital Wellington, was shaken by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake on Monday, but there were no reports of injuries, and damage was mostly superficial.
Power failure, smoke again at Nippon Steel plant in Japan
TOKYO (Reuters) – A power failure and smoke release occurred at Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp’s Nagoya steel plant in central Japan on Monday, just three days after the facility was hit with similar problems.
Japan’s Abe suffers setback with Okinawa election loss
TOKYO (Reuters) – A city mayor opposed to a plan to relocate a controversial U.S. airbase on Japan’s Okinawa island was re-elected on Sunday, creating a political headache for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and threatening friction with Washington.
U.S. ambassador “deeply concerned” about Japanese dolphin hunt
TOKYO (Reuters) – In an unusual move, U.S. ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy has expressed deep concern over the traditional dolphin hunt in western Japan, where local fisherman corral dolphins in a secluded bay before killing many for meat.
South Korean trade official kidnapped in Libya
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean trade official has been kidnapped in Libya, the foreign ministry in Seoul said on Monday.
Islamist rebels reject ‘hollow’ Syria peace talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A powerful alliance of Syrian Islamist rebels rejected upcoming peace talks on Sunday, meaning that even if the talks reach an unlikely breakthrough in the three year old civil war, it will be harder to implement it on the ground.
Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally
KIEV (Reuters) – Protesters clashed with riot police in the Ukrainian capital on Sunday after tough anti-protest legislation, which the political opposition says paves the way for a police state, was rushed through parliament last week.
South Korean official kidnapped in Libya: Yonhap
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean government official has been kidnapped in Libya, Yonhap news agency said on Monday, citing the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.
Islamist rebels reject ‘hollow’ Syria peace talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A powerful alliance of Syrian Islamist rebels rejected upcoming peace talks on Sunday, meaning that even if the talks reach an unlikely breakthrough in the three year old civil war, it will be harder to implement it on the ground.
Former FLN party chief to run for Algerian presidency
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Ali Benflis, a former leader of Algeria’s ruling FLN party, announced on Sunday he would run in the April 17 elections, in which President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has yet to say whether he will seek a fourth term.
