Thailand’s opposition heartland shelves politics to mourn king
KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) – In villages scattered through the green rice fields of northeast Thailand, a stronghold of support for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his opposition “red shirt” movement, people have put politics on hold to…
Turkish military says it killed 18 Kurdish militants in Iraq and southeast
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Turkish military said on Friday it had killed 12 Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey and another six in air strikes in northern Iraq, while also targeting their allied fighters in northern Syria.
As Duterte embraces China, Japan’s Abe set to roll out warm welcome
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans private personal meetings with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Tokyo next week, three sources said, seeking to keep him onside with U.S.-led efforts to contain Beijing’s South China Sea…
Indonesian militant inspired by Islamic State had weapons, ammunition
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian authorities on Friday said an Islamic State-inspired militant who injured three police officers this week on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta, had prepared several pipe bombs and owned live ammunition and weapons.
U.S. has few good options for response to Philippines’ Duterte
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration has few good options and limited leverage as it struggles to craft a response to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s increasingly hostile rhetoric towards the United States and his warm embrace of Chin…
Thai junta fines former PM Yingluck, orders assets seized over failed rice scheme
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the military junta that overthrew her has ordered her assets seized and fined her 35 billion baht ($996.87 million) over a rice subsidy scheme critics say hemorrhaged billion…
NZ casino operator says Crown arrests in China to impact business
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd said on Friday it was likely to be adversely affected in the short term by the detention of employees of Australian peer Crown Resorts Ltd in China.
Venezuela electoral body suspends referendum drive, opposition fumes
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s electoral authority on Thursday suspended the next phase of a recall referendum against unpopular President Nicolas Maduro, sparking outcry from the opposition who accused the Socialist government of dictatorial tactics….
New Zealand cancels meeting with Hong Kong democracy advocates on ‘diplomatic’ concerns
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Bill English canceled a meeting with two senior Hong Kong democracy supporters this week on advice from his foreign office, he said on Friday, underscoring a delicate relationship with Communist …
Some opposition changes to Colombia peace deal ‘inviable’: president
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Several modifications to a peace deal with Colombia’s FARC rebels suggested by the country’s opposition are “inviable,” President Juan Manuel Santos said on Thursday, adding he remains committed to salvaging the accord.
