Strong quake shakes central New Zealand, causes minor damage
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of New Zealand’s capital on Friday, sending panicked Wellington workers and residents into the streets, but caused little major damage just weeks after a similar size quake shook the harbou…
China to tone down new year TV galas in anti-graft push
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will tone down and simplify the glitzy, kitsch and widely watched television galas beamed across the country over the traditional Lunar New Year festival, state media said on Friday, as part of government efforts to fight graf…
China rejects appeal by Nobel laureate’s brother-in-law
HUAIROU, China (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Friday rejected an appeal by the brother-in-law of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, upholding his 11-year sentence on fraud charges, a case seen as another example of official retribution on th…
Australia’s opposition pledges tougher asylum laws as election race heats up
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia’s opposition, tipped to win next month’s election, promised on Friday to revive tough laws barring thousands of asylum seekers already in Australia from settling permanently in a pitch to voters concerned by immigration.
Analysis: U.S. walks careful Egypt line; some see mixed messages
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – By canceling a military exercise with Egypt but not cutting off U.S. aid, President Barack Obama sought on Thursday to show his displeasure at the Egyptian army’s violent crackdown on protesters – without totally alienating the g…
Car bomb kills 20 in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A powerful car bomb struck the southern Beirut stronghold of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group on Thursday, killing 20 people, wounding 120 and trapping many others inside damaged buildings, witnesses and emergency officials said.
U.N. Security Council urges end to violence in Egypt
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council urged all parties in Egypt on Thursday to end the violence and exercise maximum restraint after hundreds of people were killed when troops and police crushed protests seeking the return of deposed Pr…
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood calls for mass rallies on Friday
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide “millions’ march of anger” on Friday after noon prayers to protest the recent security forces’ violent crackdown on protesters in which hundreds were killed.
U.N. Security Council urges end to Egypt violence
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council urged all parties in Egypt on Thursday to end the violence and exercise maximum restraint after hundreds of people were killed when troops and police crushed protests seeking the return of deposed Pr…
Egypt says Obama’s comments encourage armed groups
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt said U.S. President Barack Obama’s remarks condemning a violent crackdown on Islamist protesters, were not based on “facts” and will strengthen and encourage violent groups, the presidency said in a statement on Friday.
