AUCKLAND, Jan 23 (Reuters) – The founder of
file-sharing website Megaupload was ordered to be held in
custody by a New Zealand court on Monday, as he denied charges
of internet piracy and money laundering and said authorities
were trying to portray the blackest picture of him.

Prosecutor Anne Toohey argued at a bail hearing that Kim
Dotcom, a German national also known as Kim Schmitz, was a
flight risk “at the extreme end of the scale” because it was
believed he had access to funds, had multiple identities and had
a history of fleeing criminal charges.

AUCKLAND (Reuters) – The founder of online file-sharing website Megaupload argued in a New Zealand court Monday he was innocent on charges of internet piracy and money laundering and said authorities were trying to portray the blackest picture of him.

Kim Dotcom, a German national, also known as Kim Schmitz, argued for bail saying through his lawyer that he posed no threat of absconding or restarting his businesses.

AUCKLAND, Jan 23 (Reuters) – The founder of online
file-sharing website Megaupload argued in a New Zealand court on
Monday he was innocent on charges of internet piracy and money
laundering and said authorities were trying to portray the
blackest picture of him.

Kim Dotcom, a German national, also known as Kim Schmitz,
argued for bail saying through his lawyer that he posed no
threat of absconding or restarting his businesses.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Beijing should not fear a new U.S. defense policy, seen as an “evolutionary” Asian security strategy to counterbalance China’s growing might, that will lead to a network of new military partnerships across Asia, officials and analysts said on Friday.

The new defense strategy, which will expand the U.S. military presence in Asia but shrink the overall size of the force in order to slash defense spending, was flagged late last year and is a clear sign of U.S. commitment to the region.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – They are a silent army, formed in ranks inside clubs and hotels around Australia, desperately battling slot machines in the hope of winning an elusive jackpot.

Australia has 197,000 slot machines, called “pokies,” the highest number of machines per head in the world. Slot machines feed 62 percent of the A$19 billion-plus annual gaming sector.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Thursday Myanmar had opened a dialogue on reform but needed to do more to improve human rights, in his first remarks about the authoritarian regime after the Southeast Asian nation released political prisoners.

A senior Myanmar Home Ministry official told Reuters on Wednesday that the new civilian government was ready to release more political prisoners, a further sign that genuine reform could be underway after five decades of harsh military rule.

PERTH, Australia, Oct 29 (Reuters) – A Commonwealth leaders
summit on Saturday failed to agree to appoint a human rights
commissioner, despite Australia, Britain and Canada backing the
move seen by rights advocates as vital for the 54-nation group
to remain credible.

Leaders of the mostly former British colonies are meeting in
the remote Australian city of Perth under pressure to reform and
toughen measures against human rights abuses in member states.

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) – Commonwealth leaders were told on Saturday that their summit risked being labeled a failure if they ignored proposals to adopt “meaningful” reforms, including taking a much tougher stand on human rights abuses.

Leaders of the 54 mostly former British colonies are meeting in the remote Australian city of Perth, under pressure to reform the body to avoid it sliding into irrelevance.

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) – Leaders of the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies Friday took tentative steps to tighten up on human rights abuses by members, but have still to address tougher measures some warn the group must take to remain relevant.

Britain’s 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth opened the meeting of leaders of the 54 states of the Commonwealth, home to a third of the world’s population and five of the G20 leading economies but struggling to make much impact on global policies.

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) – Leaders of the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies met on Friday for a three-day summit under pressure to get tougher on human rights abuses by members or risk losing its purpose as a group.

Britain’s 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth opened the meeting of leaders of the 54 states of the Commonwealth, home to 30 percent of the world’s population and five of the G20 leading economies but struggling to make an impact on global policies.