Thai police order thousands of worshippers out of scandal-hit temple
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police ordered thousands of worshippers to leave the country’s biggest Buddhist temple on Sunday so it can intensify its search for its former abbot, who is wanted on money-laundering charges.
West Mosul residents told battle is imminent as Iraqi forces begin moving
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi planes dropped millions of leaflets on the western side of Mosul warning residents that the battle to dislodge Islamic State is imminent as troops began moving in their direction, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Myanmar soldiers injured in clash with militants in troubled Rakhine
YANGON (Reuters) – Two members of Myanmar’s security forces were injured in a clash with militants on the troubled Rakhine State border with Bangladesh, Myanmar state counselor’s office said, casting doubt on the government’s claim that the region had …
Philippine army to create task force to chase big drug syndicates
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine army will create a “battalion size” task force to help the government’s anti-narcotics agency run after high-value targets in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, the country’s military chief said.
U.S. pushes Beijing to keep up pressure on North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington urged Beijing to keep pressure on North Korea to return to talks aimed at preventing Pyongyang from making further advances in its weapons program in violation of U.N. resolutions.
U.S. carrier group patrols in tense South China Sea
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A United States aircraft carrier strike group has begun patrols in the South China Sea amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway and concerns it could become a flashpoint under the new U.S. administration…
France warns the United States against the weakening of Europe: JDD
PARIS (Reuters) – Any U.S. attempt to divide Europeans is doomed to fail as Washington lacks the capacity to offset the benefits the European Union offers its members, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in an interview with newspaper Journa…
With greetings from Trump, Pence says U.S. committed to Europe
MUNICH (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday brought a message of support for Europe from Donald Trump, but failed to wholly reassure allies worried about the new president’s stance on Russia and the European Union.
UK officials think Russia behind Montenegro plot: Sunday Telegraph
LONDON (Reuters) – British officials believe Russian authorities were behind a plot in October to kill Montenegro’s pro-Western prime minister, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported, citing senior British government sources.
Corruption scandals weigh on Ecuador’s leftists ahead of vote
GUAYAQUIL/QUITO (Reuters) – A former oil minister’s accusations that Ecuador’s leftist government is involved in graft at state-run Petroecuador is raising the ire of voters as the ruling party seeks to extend its 10-year hold on power in a presidentia…
