Germany plans spot drug tests on pilots after Germanwings crash
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany plans legislation requiring random drug and alcohol testing of pilots, hoping to reduce the risk of a repeat of the Germanwings crash in March, Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt was quoted as saying on Sunday.
China passes first domestic violence law, gay couples excluded
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s largely rubber stamp parliament on Sunday passed the country’s first law against domestic violence, which covers unmarried people who cohabit but does not protect gay couples, a senior lawmaker said.
Russia says air force has not hit civilian targets in Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian air forces have not hit civilian targets since they started a bombing campaign in Syria nearly three months ago, a senior Russian officer said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television.
Afghan opposition group pressures Ghani on security crisis
KABUL (Reuters) – Political horsetrading over appointments to Afghan police and army commands has created chaos for security forces fighting the Taliban in strategic areas such as Helmand province, a leading opposition politician said.
Taiwan opposition leader says China to have ‘rational attitude’ toward DPP
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s opposition leader and presidential frontrunner on Sunday called on China to respect the island’s democratic process and said she believes Beijing will have a “rational attitude” when dealing with her independence-leaning par…
China passes controversial counter-terrorism law
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s parliament passed a controversial new anti-terrorism law on Sunday that requires technology firms to hand over sensitive information such as encryption keys to the government and allows the military to venture overseas on co…
Thai police defend probe into British tourists’ murder after hundreds protest
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police on Sunday defended their investigation into the 2014 murder of two British tourists after a court sentenced two men from Myanmar to death for the killings, prompting protests in Myanmar and Thailand.
Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile from Yemen: state news
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Scud ballistic missile fired from Yemen on Saturday, according to a statement on the Saudi state news agency SPA, an attack which threatens a fragile ceasefire ahead of renewed U.N.-backed peace talk…
Japan, South Korea diplomats meet ahead of ministerial talks on ‘comfort women’
SEOUL (Reuters) – Senior diplomats of South Korea and Japan met on Sunday ahead of talks by their foreign ministers over the issue of ‘comfort women’, a legacy of Japan’s wartime past that has long plagued ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh police raid militant hideout, explosives found
DHAKA (Reuters) – Police said on Sunday they had detained three suspected members of a banned militant group and found a sniper rifle, ammunition, explosives and military suits in a hideout in southeastern Bangladesh.
