China lobbying to drop South China Sea from defense forum statement: U.S.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – China is lobbying Southeast Asian nations to drop any reference to concerns over the South China Sea in a statement to be issued after regional defense talks in Malaysia, a diplomatic push that reflects growing tension over Chi…
China urges U.S. not to threaten its sovereignty
BEIJING (Reuters) – Last week’s U.S. naval patrol in the South China Sea threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests, and the U.S. should not take any more dangerous actions that threaten China’s sovereignty, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wa…
Australian intelligence reports spike in ‘terrorism’ funding cases
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s anti-money laundering agency says reports of “terrorism-financing” cases have tripled in the past year, with around 100 people suspected of funneling over A$50 million ($35.92 million) out of the country to support Islami…
Spurred by Myanmar radicals, Thai Buddhists push for state religion status
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A campaign to enshrine Buddhism as Thailand’s state religion has been galvanized by a radical Buddhist movement in neighboring Myanmar that is accused of stoking religious tension, the leader of the Thai bid said.
No proof Russian plane broke up in mid-air: Egyptian authorities
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said on Tuesday there were no facts to substantiate assertions by Russian officials that the Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday broke up in mid-air.
Taiwan, China leaders to hold historic meeting in Singapore on Saturday
TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) – The presidents of Taiwan and China will meet in Singapore on Saturday to discuss cross-strait issues, Taiwan’s presidential office said, in the first such meeting of leaders from the two sides since the Chinese civil war ende…
Pope still faces stiff resistance to reform Vatican, new books say
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Two new books by Italian journalists depict a Vatican plagued by mismanagement, greed, cronyism and corruption and where Pope Francis still faces stiff resistance from the old guard to his reform agenda.
Argentina’s opposition camp fights fear-mongering with humor
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – If Argentina’s opposition hopeful Mauricio Macri wins the presidency in the Nov. 22 run-off, he will make minced meat out of Bambi and the ozone layer will disappear, according to a new campaign poking fun at the ruling party’s…
Thousands march in Romania as toll from nightclub fire reaches 32
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Thousands of people protested across Romania on Tuesday, demanding cabinet resignations as the death toll from a nightclub fire reached 32, with dozens more people in hospital critically hurt.
Chinese yuan’s diplomatic charge covers commercial retreat
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Even as the International Monetary Fund prepares to accept China’s yuan in its basket of reserve currencies, a major diplomatic victory for Beijing’s campaign to internationalize the currency, foreign companies are growing more ske…
