Thailand’s political activity ban stays for now: PM
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military government on Tuesday said it will not yet lift a ban on political activity, despite a general election scheduled for next year and growing pressure from political parties to lift it.
Turkey’s Erdogan takes legal action after lawmaker calls him ‘fascist dictator’
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan filed a criminal complaint against a prominent opposition lawmaker on Tuesday, one of Erdogan’s lawyers said, after the deputy called the Turkish leader a fascist dictator.
U.N. picks Norwegian for Myanmar role as tensions simmer over Rohingya crisis
YANGON (Reuters) – The United Nations named a new interim U.N. resident coordinator for Myanmar on Tuesday, appointing Knut Ostby of Norway to take over the humanitarian role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of…
South Korea, China say to mend ties after THAAD standoff
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – Seoul and Beijing agreed on Tuesday to work swiftly to get relations back on track following a year-long standoff over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea which pummeled South Korean business interests …
Tensions rise as Australia starts to dismantle Papua New Guinea detention center
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian private security vacated an asylum seeker detention center in Papua New Guinea (PNG) ahead of its planned closure on Tuesday, detainees said, leaving 600-odd refugees and asylum seekers barricaded inside and refusing to mo…
China considers three-year jail terms for disrespecting national anthem, flag
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament is considering tougher penalties for people who disrespect the national anthem or flag in public, including up to three years in jail, state news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday.
North Korea hacked Daewoo Shipbuilding, took warship blueprints: South Korea lawmaker
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea probably stole South Korean warship blueprints after hacking into Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd’s database in April last year, a South Korean opposition lawmaker said on Tuesday.
New Zealand PM says ban on foreign home buyers to start early 2018
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday a ban on foreigners buying existing homes would begin in early 2018, but the restrictions would not apply to Australians.
Japan to launch crackdown on asylum seekers: Yomiuri
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan will curb asylum seekers’ rights to work and detain any not deemed refugees or who have made multiple applications, the Yomiuri daily reported on Tuesday, in a move to further tighten one of the developed world’s toughest refuge…
South Korea, China seek to mend relations after THAAD fallout
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – South Korea and China have agreed to work swiftly to get their relations back on track following a year-long standoff over the deployment of a controversial U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.
