BAKU (Reuters) – Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev opened a big lead in Azerbaijan’s presidential election on Wednesday with 92.1% of the vote, according to preliminary results quoted by the country’s election commission. (Reporting by Nailia Bagirova, Editing by Ron Popeski and Chris Reese)
(Reuters) – Islamic state claimed the responsibility for a blast in southwestern Pakistan, the group’s Telegram channel said on Wednesday. Two explosions near electoral candidates’ offices in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan killed 26 people and wounded dozens on Wednesday, officials said, raising concerns over security on the eve of a general election. (Reporting by …
By Heekyong Yang and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – The release of hidden camera footage showing South Korea’s first lady accepting a Dior bag as a gift was a “political manoeuvre”, President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday, but vowed to draw clearer lines to ensure such incidents do not happen again. The comments were …
South Korea’s Yoon vows clearer rules after wife’s ‘Dior bag scandal’ Read More »
By Rupam Jain NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Lawmakers in a small Indian state ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday approved landmark legislation to unify personal laws across religions, a move opposed by many minority Muslims. Approval by the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand makes it the first in the …
Small Indian state passes landmark civil code opposed by Muslims Read More »
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States faces heightened risk from Russia, which is trying to acquire goods with military applications, the U.S. Treasury Department said in fresh National Risk Assessments on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing released on Wednesday. Russia has expanded efforts to illegally buy U.S.-origin goods that could be used for …
US faces heightened risk from Russia, North Korea, Treasury financing report finds Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Wednesday inaugurated its Ross Sea scientific research station, the official Xinhua news agency reported, starting operations in an outpost in a part of the Antarctic due south of Australia and New Zealand for the first time. Resembling a crucifix, like the Crux constellation or the Southern Cross, the Qinling station will …
China opens Antarctic station south of Australia, New Zealand Read More »
HONG KONG (Reuters) -Twelve people were rescued from a rollercoaster in Hong Kong’s Disneyland after the ride stopped working on Wednesday afternoon, police and fire services said after they deployed dozens of personnel to the site. Police and fire services were called for assistance from 3.16 pm (0716 GMT) after the Disney ride Hyperspace Mountain …
Twelve rescued from rollercoaster at Hong Kong Disneyland Read More »
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to China from April 15-16, the FAZ newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing an invitation sent to business representatives by the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business. Scholz will be accompanied by a business delegation, according to the newspaper. A government spokesperson said that Scholz’s public appearances were …
German Chancellor Scholz to travel to China in April -FAZ Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Wednesday he hoped China would “give us a hand” in Ukraine peace talks, after Switzerland last month agreed to host a global peace summit on Ukraine. Ukraine said it had invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in a planned “peace summit” of world leaders …
Swiss foreign minister hopes China can ‘give us a hand’ in Ukraine peace talks Read More »
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A rebel group in Indonesia’s eastern region of Papua said on Wednesday it will release a New Zealand pilot it has held hostage for a year. It was unclear when the pilot, Philip Mehrtens, who was kidnapped exactly a year ago when he landed a small commercial plane in a mountainous area, …
Rebel group in Indonesia’s Papua to release kidnapped New Zealand pilot Read More »
