Ecuador's Congress approves thorny media law

Ecuador's Congress approves thorny media law
Italian island jail hosts high-end vineyard
SA into Champions Trophy semi-finals
Brazil Bus Protests Illustrate Broader Malaise
Critic of Russia's Putin raises stakes with Moscow race
India Ink: Image of the Day: June 14
India Ink: A Wider View of India’s Foreign Policy Reveals Clear Strategy
Greek Bank Avoids Full State Control After Raising Capital
Lions braced for Waratahs barrage
VIDEO: DJ sacked over Gillard interview
VIDEO: 'Extinct' horses released in China
VIDEO: Inside hospital treating Afghan troops
Polls close in Iran's presidential election
Why small arms would be unlikely to help Syria's rebels
In Senate, an Immigration Bill Savior or Saboteur?
Detroit defaults on some debts
Ban terms Israeli settlement push illegal
European rights body says Hungary changes threaten courts
Women Settle Gender Bias Lawsuit Against Fire Dept.
A Fight Over Coal Exports and the Industry’s Future

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:13 PM PDT

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's Congress on Friday passed a law creating a state watchdog to regulate newspaper and television content, a move critics called a blow to free speech but the government hailed as a step toward more balanced media.

Italian island jail hosts high-end vineyard

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:04 PM PDT

GORGONA ISLAND, Italy (Reuters) - High on a hillside overlooking the azure sea on a small Mediterranean island, two brawny men toil under the sun in a vineyard that has just released a 50-euro ($66) wine destined for the tables of top restaurants.

SA into Champions Trophy semi-finals

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:19 PM PDT

South Africa reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals after they tie with West Indies who are eliminated in a rain-hit match.

Brazil Bus Protests Illustrate Broader Malaise

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:45 PM PDT

The scale and persistence of the protests this past week, some of which turned violent, are a symptom of a broad, if vaguely defined, frustration felt by Brazilians in major cities that goes beyond the price of a bus or subway ticket.

Critic of Russia's Putin raises stakes with Moscow race

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:37 PM PDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, won an opposition party's backing on Friday in a Moscow mayoral election, raising the stakes in a trial that may put him behind bars for a decade.

India Ink: Image of the Day: June 14

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:04 PM PDT

The 160-year-old telegraph service in India will come to an end on July 15.

India Ink: A Wider View of India’s Foreign Policy Reveals Clear Strategy

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:57 AM PDT

There are many reasons India's foreign policy remains something of an enigma to analysts, scholars and reporters, both in India and abroad.

Greek Bank Avoids Full State Control After Raising Capital

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:03 PM PDT

Greece's biggest lender, the National Bank of Greece, has completed its long-awaited capital increase, raising enough money from private investors to avoid a complete nationalization.

Lions braced for Waratahs barrage

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:32 AM PDT

The Lions can expect a physical challenge from New South Wales Waratahs in Saturday's fifth tour match in Sydney.

VIDEO: DJ sacked over Gillard interview

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 08:08 AM PDT

A radio presenter has been sacked in Australia for asking Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a live interview if her partner is gay.

VIDEO: 'Extinct' horses released in China

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT

Rare Przewalski horses have been returned to their native habitat in northwest China

VIDEO: Inside hospital treating Afghan troops

Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:29 PM PDT

David Loyn reports on the heavy price paid by Afghan troops as they are set to take the lead in combat operations across the whole country.

Polls close in Iran's presidential election

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:58 AM PDT

Voting ended after an extension of four hours across country and five hours in Tehran because of high turnout.

Why small arms would be unlikely to help Syria's rebels

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:34 AM PDT

The Obama administration announced Thursday night that, after concluding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces had used chemical weapons, it would provide direct military assistance to the rebels as a "last step." Although it has not announced what kind of military assistance it would send, it's expected to consist mostly of small arms: rifles and bullets.

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In Senate, an Immigration Bill Savior or Saboteur?

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:26 AM PDT

With his border security plan, Senator John Cornyn of Texas has emerged as the most polarizing figure on the issue.

Detroit defaults on some debts

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:32 AM PDT

Detroit will immediately stop debt payments, the city's financial manager says, as he sets out a proposal for creditors to take a big cut on what they are owed.

Ban terms Israeli settlement push illegal

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT

UN chief terms proposed building of 1,000 homes in two occupied West Bank settlements 'violation of international law'.

European rights body says Hungary changes threaten courts

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:39 AM PDT

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A key European rights think-tank, the Venice Commission, sharply criticized Hungary's recent amendments to its constitution on Friday, saying some provisions breached democratic principles.