On South China Sea islet, Taiwan argues Philippines case is far from watertight
ITU ABA, South China Sea (Reuters) – On Itu Aba, in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, Taiwanese coast guard officials proudly haul a small wooden bucket of water from one of several simple concrete wells on the coral outcrop.
Australia says Mozambique debris likely from missing MH370
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia said on Thursday debris recovered this month in Mozambique was highly likely to be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, while Malaysia called for a stepped up search of Africa’s coast for clues to the plane’s fate.
Indonesia urges Chinese vessels not to breach its territorial waters
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia on Thursday urged Chinese ships not to enter its territorial waters, days after it protested against what it called a breach of its sovereignty by a Chinese coastguard ship.
Turkish court orders arrest of suspect over Istanbul bombing: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court ordered the arrest of a suspect in connection with a suicide bombing blamed on Islamic State that killed five people in central Istanbul, the private Dogan News Agency said on Thursday.
MH17 investigation team in Malaysia to discuss legal options
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A joint team investigating the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014 is in Malaysia to discuss options with authorities to set up a tribunal to hold those responsible to account, the Malaysian transport min…
Hong Kong press freedom seen to have deteriorated last year: survey
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong residents and journalists believe the state of press freedom deteriorated in the city for a second straight year in 2015, a survey by a media group showed, apparently a reflection of general unease in the city about main…
Sudanese forces silence female activists with violence, rape-rights group
DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Sudanese security forces have used threats, assault and rape to silence female human rights activists, forcing many to abandon their work or flee the country, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.
China’s Xi to push Obama next week on North Korea talks
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping will push President Barack Obama next week to resume talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, a senior diplomat said on Thursday, a meeting that could also touch on hacking and the South China Sea.
Feds bust drug smuggling ring using tunnel under U.S.-Mexico border
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – U.S. federal agents have arrested four people and seized nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana in an operation to bust a drug smuggling ring that had tunneled under the U.S.-Mexico border, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Obama praises Argentina’s ‘man in a hurry’ Macri for reforms
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday championed Argentina’s new center-right leader Mauricio Macri as an example for other countries in Latin America, praising the fast pace of reforms to strengthen the economy.
