Aftershock brings fresh trauma to Indonesia’s quake-hit Lombok
A magnitude 6.2 aftershock rocked Indonesia’s Lombok on Thursday, sparking fresh panic on the tropical tourist island after a series of tremors that have killed more than 150 people in the past two weeks.
Australia to help build Samoa parliament in latest Pacific aid pledge
(This version of Aug. 8 story has been refiled to clarify project funding in paragraph 8)
UK says Russia needs to know there is a price to pay for using chemical weapons
States like Russia that use or condone the use of chemical weapons need to know there is a price to pay, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday.
Surprise VP pick frays opposition coalition ahead of Indonesian presidential poll
Jakarta’s deputy governor is “99 per cent” certain to be the running mate of former general Prabowo Subianto in next year’s Indonesian presidential poll, a senior party official said, a proposed move that risks rupturing the opposition coalition.
Nine dead as migrant boat sinks off western Turkey: coast guard
Nine people died early on Thursday when a boat carrying migrants sank off the western coast of Turkey, the Turkish coast guard said. Four people were rescued.
Handling of U.S. trade dispute causes rift in Chinese leadership: sources
A growing trade war with the United States is causing rifts within China’s Communist Party, with some critics saying that an overly nationalistic Chinese stance may have hardened the U.S. position, according to four sources close to the government.
South Sudan president Kiir grants Machar, other rebels amnesty
President Salva Kiir granted a general amnesty to rebels in South Sudan’s civil war, including his former deputy Riek Machar, as a rights organization said authorities in Africa’s youngest country should also free its unarmed critics.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan calls for more ‘trustworthy’ ties with U.S.
Pakistani prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan called for more “trustworthy” ties with the United States which have frayed amid U.S. accusations that Pakistan is aiding Islamist insurgents waging war in Afghanistan, something Islamabad denies.
Russia calls new U.S. sanctions draconian, rejects poisoning allegations
Russia’s embassy in the United States on Thursday called new U.S. sanctions draconian and said the reason for the new restrictions — allegations it poisoned a former spy and his daughter in Britain — were far-fetched.
South Sudan president Kiir grants amnesty to rebel leader Machar, others
South Sudan President Salva Kiir granted an amnesty to all those involved in the nation’s civil war including rebel leader Riek Machar, according to a television broadcast, days after they signed a peace deal.
