Philippines’ Duterte tells army destroy militants or risk Islamic State ‘disease’
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered the army to destroy the small but violent Abu Sayyaf militant group saying if not, the Philippines risked being “contaminated” by Islamic State.
Thai draft charter won approval of 61.35 percent of voters: commission
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A draft military-backed constitution in Thailand won the approval of 61.35 percent of those who voted in a referendum on the weekend, the Election Commission said on Wednesday as it released final results of the vote.
Turkey, Russia have similar views on Syria ceasefire: Turkish minister
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Russia have similar views on the need for a ceasefire in Syria, the provision of humanitarian aid, and a political solution to end the crisis, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state-run Anadolu agency on …
Wildfires kill three people on Portugal’s Madeira, 1,000 evacuated
LISBON (Reuters) – At least three people died and more than a thousand were evacuated on the Portuguese island of Madeira when forest fires, raging for a third day, spread to the regional capital and tourist destination, Funchal, authorities said on We…
Japan’s crown prince ready for throne, but no fairytale for his unhappy princess
TOKYO (Reuters) – When Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito proposed to a reluctant Masako Owada, he promised to protect her with all his might, a vow that may get tougher to keep if, as expected, his father Emperor Akihito abdicates, and the woman who has s…
Western countries concerned by tension around Libya’s Zueitina oil terminal
PARIS (Reuters) – Western countries including the United States, France and Britain said in a joint statement on Wednesday they were concerned by mounting tension around the Zueitina oil terminal in Libya.
Police raid suspected Islamist extremists in West German towns
DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) – Police carried out raids against suspected Islamist extremists in several towns in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday, the state’s criminal police said.
Myanmar worker rights groups say blocked from Thai work after criticism
YANGON (Reuters) – Two Myanmar labor rights groups looking after migrant workers said Myanmar authorities had blocked them from operating in Thailand because they had criticized recruitment practices as “legal human trafficking”.
Workers strike at South African power plants despite court order
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Workers went on strike at various power plants ran by South African state-run power utility Eskom despite a court order prohibiting union members from downing tools, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia intercepts two missiles fired from Yemen, Al Arabiya says
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at the kingdom by Yemen’s armed Houthi movement on Wednesday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported.
