Australia says no plan to stop surveillance flights over South China Sea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will not bow to Chinese pressure to halt surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea at the center of rival claims between China and some of its neighbors, Defense Minister Marise Payne said on Thursda…
Singapore Strait collision sinks freighter; six crew still missing
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Six crew members are still missing after a general cargo freighter sank in the Singapore Strait following a collision with a chemical tanker at 8:14 p.m. (7.14 a.m. ET) on Dec. 16.
Cuba says Obama welcome to visit but not to meddle
HAVANA (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama is welcome to visit Cuba but not to meddle in its internal affairs, a senior foreign ministry official said on Wednesday on the eve of the first anniversary of the two countries’ historic rapprochement.
China says graft suspects abroad abuse system to prolong cases
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese corruption suspects who have fled abroad have been abusing legal systems of host countries to prolong their cases in what is a big challenge to China’s efforts to get them back, a top anti-graft official said on Thursday.
China more than triples Macau’s size with new maritime jurisdiction
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China has granted tiny Macau control over its surrounding sea for the first time to help boost its economic development, more than tripling the size of the former Portuguese colony’s territory.
Philippine troops clash with Islamist militants, 15 dead
(This story corrects the Dec. 15 story to change the president’s name in the seventh paragraph to “Aquino”)
Brazil judge drops objection to Rousseff impeachment proceedings
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A controversial secret congressional vote that stacked an impeachment committee with opponents of President Dilma Rousseff was found legitimate on Wednesday by the Supreme Court justice who suspended proceedings against her last we…
Exclusive: U.S. supplies Syrian fighters ahead of push for Islamic State town
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has delivered a fresh supply of ammunition to Syrian Arab fighters ahead of an expected stiff battle with Islamic State as they push toward the Syrian town of al-Shadadi, a key logistics hub for the group, U.S. …
U.S., Cuba agree on restoring commercial flights: AP
(Reuters) – The United States and Cuba have reached “an understanding” on restoring commercial airline flights, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed officials.
Venezuelan officials accused of taking drug pay-offs in U.S. indictment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two senior Venezuelan officials facing U.S. drug trafficking charges are accused in an indictment of taking payments from narcotics traffickers and alerting them to drug raids, according to a person with knowledge of the case.
