By Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s leader has left open for more than five months a seat on the panel that selects the city’s judges, three lawyers familiar with the situation said. The unprecedented delay raises questions over the autono…
Religious groups call for amnesty for Hong Kongers charged under national security law
By James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) – A coalition of Christians and Catholics on Monday called on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to drop charges against media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other political activists jailed or in custody under a China-imposed natio…
Florida is so cold iguanas are falling out of trees
(Reuters) – The U.S. National Weather Service Miami-South Florida warned the public on Sunday that immobilised iguanas could fall out of trees due to unusual cold temperatures across the region. “Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immob…
Olympics-Chinese figure skating judge banned for bias back at Beijing Games
By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese figure skating judge who served a suspension for giving preferential marks to his compatriots will serve on a technical judging panel at the Beijing Winter Olympics, competition records show, d…
Oil posts biggest monthly gain in a year on tight supply, political tensions
By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Monday to end January with their biggest monthly gain in a year, boosted by a supply shortage and political tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The most-active Brent contract, for A…
Global stocks trade higher at the end of a volatile month
By Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World stocks climbed higher on Monday as investors digested new optimism from the U.S. Treasury’s top economist that inflationary pressures should ease in 2022 due to weaker demand for goods, easing supply bott…
U.S. worried North Korea could return to nuclear and ICBM tests, urges dialogue
By David Brunnstrom and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is concerned North Korea’s escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior U.S. official sa…
Thai pig farmers angered by havoc from suspected African swine fever
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand (Reuters) -Business began unravelling for Thai pig farmer Jintana Jamjumrus two years ago, after dozens of her animals got feverish and died within days of a mysterious illness she suspected of being a…
N.Korea says tested most powerful missile since 2017, took pictures from space
By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea confirmed on Monday it had tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), state media reported, as U.S. and South Korean officials warned Sunday’s launch could lead to resumed testing of long…
Biden calls on Taliban to release of American hostage
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday called on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to release a U.S. civil engineer who was abducted two years ago and is believed to be the last American hostage held by the Taliban. Mark Frerichs, a 59-ye…