Chinese rights activist jailed for six years
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A prominent Chinese rights activist, Guo Feixiong, was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Friday by a court in southern China, amid a continuing crackdown on human rights advocates across the country, his lawyer said on Friday…
Allegations of plot against Thai government unfounded: opposition
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Allegations by Thailand’s prime minister that members of the opposition planned to attack senior officials are baseless and designed to deflect attention from a corruption investigation, one of the main opposition groups said on Fri…
China air force again holds drills in Western Pacific
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s air force said on Friday it had flown bombers and other jets through a strait between Japanese islands on their way to drills in the Western Pacific, and had carried out a patrol in China’s air identification zone in the Eas…
India’s Modi to meet Sonia Gandhi to discuss tax reform
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet opposition Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday evening to discuss a landmark tax reform and other bills to be debated in the winter session of parliament, his office said.
Indonesia raises concerns over Australia’s handling of asylum seekers
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia voiced concern on Friday that Australia had detained and returned 16 asylum seekers whose Indonesian boat was intercepted by the Australian navy a week ago without informing the Indonesian authorities.
China navy holds first joint anti-piracy drill with NATO
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese naval forces involved in anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden have held their first joint drill with NATO ships carrying out the same mission, China’s Defense Ministry said on Friday, as China seeks a greater global secur…
China’s army to get more prominent role in military reform
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s army will get a more prominent role under military reform proposals announced this week and there will also be more help for those who lose their jobs as a result of the changes, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.
More than one million children need urgent aid in the conflict-torn Central African Republic: U.N.
DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – More than a million children in the Central African Republic are in urgent need of humanitarian aid while almost half of those under five are malnourished, the United Nations said on Friday ahead of Pope Francis’ vi…
Global landmine casualties increase, Afghanistan largely to blame: study
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Long-term progress in reducing the number of landmine casualties was reversed last year, and rebel groups used the mines in 10 countries, the largest number since 2006, researchers said on Thursday.
Mexico Federal Police open to probe on use of excessive force
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Federal Police is open to an investigation into its possible use of excessive force, particularly in two incidents this year that claimed the lives of dozens of people, police chief Enrique Galindo said on Thursday.
