South Korean leader’s friend Choi now charged with bribery
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean special prosecutors team have filed fresh charges including bribery against a close friend of impeached President Park Geun-hye, the central figure in a political scandal that has engulfed the country, the team said on Mo…
Eight police killed in attack in north Sinai
CAIRO (Reuters) – At least eight policemen were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in the northern Sinai city of al-Arish on Monday, security and medical sources said.
Indonesia’s president moves to rein in ‘out of control’ military chief
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo reproached his military chief in a meeting last week amid concerns the commander was “out of control” after he unilaterally suspended defense cooperation with Australia, two sources briefed on the m…
U.N. rights envoy visits Myanmar amid border violence, report of abuse
YANGON (Reuters) – U.N. human rights envoy Yanghee Lee has arrived in Myanmar on a 12-day visit amid growing concern about reports of abuse of members of the Rohingya Muslim minority in a government security crackdown.
Thailand considers death penalty for officials convicted of graft
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai officials convicted in corruption cases involving more than 1 billion baht ($28 million) could face the death penalty under a proposal approved on Monday by the military-appointed National Reform Steering Committee.
Thai floods kill 21 and hit rubber production
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Widespread flooding in Thailand’s south has killed 21 people, hit rubber production in the region and shut down infrastructure, officials said on Monday, as the military government increased aid to flood-affected areas.
Turkish army says 48 Islamic State militants killed in Syria on Sunday
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish-led air and ground operations in Syria killed 48 Islamic State militants on Sunday while Turkish warplanes destroyed 23 buildings and shelters used by the jihadists, Turkey’s armed forces said in a statement on Monday.
Militants attack construction workers in Indian Kashmir, kill three
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Several unidentified militants attacked a camp housing road construction workers in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, killing three laborers before fleeing, said police in the restive region near the border wi…
Chinese police shoot dead three ‘terror’ suspects in Xinjiang
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police shot dead three “violent terror” suspects in the western Xinjiang region, the government said on Monday, the latest clash with Islamist militants who the government says want to break the region away from China.
Expenses scandal an embarrassing start to 2017 for Australia’s embattled PM
SYDNEY – Australia’s health minister stepped down temporarily on Monday to allow auditors to scour her expense accounts after she bought an investment apartment while on a work trip, an embarrassing start to the year for embattled Prime Minister Malcol…
