Japan says armed Chinese vessel enters Japan waters
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Chinese coastguard vessel with what appeared to be gun turrets entered territorial waters claimed by Japan in the East China Sea, Japan’s coastguard said on Saturday, adding that it was the first such incursion by an armed Chinese v…
Record 12,000 candidates register for Iran’s February election
DUBAI (Reuters) – Almost 12,000 candidates have registered for Iran’s February parliamentary election, state television said on Saturday, breaking participation records at a time of political uncertainty in the Islamic Republic.
German foreign minister calls for better control of EU’s borders
BERLIN (Reuters) – Europe needs to regain control of its borders, Germany’s foreign minister was quoted on Saturday as saying, after reports that forged Syrian passports are in the hands of Islamic State militants.
Nepal quake-reconstruction body finally cleared to start working
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Eight months after a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, its government has finally opened the way for a reconstruction agency to spend $4.1 billion pledged by foreign donors to help the massive number of people rendered homeless.
Dozens feared dead after another landslide in a Myanmar jade mine
YANGON (Reuters) – Dozens of people were feared dead in Myanmar after a landslide hit a jade mining region, workers at a local mining firm said, the second such incident in just over a month.
Breakaway Muslim rebels kill nine people in southern Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – A breakaway Muslim rebel group killed nine civilians in the southern Philippines in a series of attacks on Christmas eve, officials said on Saturday, in a reminder that the region remains volatile despite recent gains in the peace pr…
A hug and high tea: Indian PM makes surprise visit to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Pakistan on Friday to meet his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, the first time an Indian premier has visited the rival nation in over a decade.
Iraqi forces consolidate position in Ramadi ahead of final push against Islamic State
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi troops who have fought their way deep into the Islamic State stronghold of Ramadi were consolidating their positions on Friday ahead of a planned final assault to capture the city.Soldiers were clearing bombs from roads and ho…
Iraqi forces consolidate position in Ramadi ahead of final push against Islamic State
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi troops who have fought their way deep into the Islamic State stronghold of Ramadi were consolidating their positions on Friday ahead of a planned final assault to capture the city.Soldiers were clearing bombs from roads and ho…
Exclusive: Islamic State sanctioned organ harvesting in document taken in U.S. raid
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Islamic State has sanctioned the harvesting of human organs in a previously undisclosed ruling by the group’s Islamic scholars, raising concerns that the violent extremist group may be trafficking in body parts.
