Thai police reiterate crackdown was motive for bombing
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police reiterated on Monday the motive for a deadly bombing at a shrine in Bangkok in August was revenge for a crackdown on human trafficking and they again showed wads of cash that would be used as a reward for their investiga…
As insults fly, Iran-Saudi haj row aggravates regional rifts
DUBAI (Reuters) – For regional adversaries at loggerheads over the crises in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the disaster at the haj is unlikely to be a game changer in the contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia, merely adding venom to their mutual acrimony.
Anti-India protests erupt in Nepal as fuel rationing bites
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Protesters marched in Nepal’s capital on Monday, carrying an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing their giant neighbor of imposing an economic blockade and meddling in internal politics over the adoption of a ne…
Hague prosecutor demands prison, fine for Lebanese journalist
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A journalist who ignored a court order to take down videos that risked exposing the identities of witnesses in the case of Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri’s murder should serve a year in prison, a Hague prosecutor said on …
Russia seizes initiative in Syria
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia appeared to seize the initiative in international efforts to end the conflict in Syria on Sunday as Washington scrambled to devise a new strategy for the war-ravaged country and France sent warplanes to bomb Islamic St…
Russia to consider restrictions against Ukrainian airlines
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has given an order to the transportation ministry to consider retaliatory restrictive measures against Ukraine for banning Russian flights, the government spokeswoman Natalia Timakova said on Mo…
Egypt tourism industry expects moderate growth in 2015
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s tourism industry, hit by years of political upheaval and militant violence, is expected to post moderate growth this year and hopes a global advertising campaign will revive the sector vital for economic recovery, the tourism …
China defends envoy to Malaysia after comments on racism
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Monday defended the actions of its ambassador to Malaysia after he was summoned to clarify his remarks criticizing extremism and racism ahead of a planned pro-Malay rally in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Feted in China, Xi’s U.S. profile dims in shadow of pope
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On Friday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoyed the symbolic high point of his first state visit to the United States – a 21-gun salute as he stood with President Barack Obama outside the White House.
Turks kidnapped in Baghdad appear in video promising their release
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Sixteen Turkish workers abducted in Baghdad earlier this month have appeared in an online video promising their release, days after the U.N. backed a deal to extricate Syrian villagers under siege from rebels supported by Ankara.
