North Korea’s black market becoming the new normal
PYONGYANG (Reuters) – When North Korea’s late “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il opened the Pothonggang Department Store in December 2010, he called on it to play “a big role” in improving living standards in the capital Pyongyang, official media said.
Japanese protesters dragged away as work resumes at U.S. airbase
TOKYO (Reuters) – Police dragged away elderly protesters trying to block work on a contentious U.S. airbase in Okinawa on Thursday as Japan’s government resumed building even though the Okinawa governor had revoked a work permit for the site.
India says top militant killed in disputed Kashmir region
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Indian security forces in Kashmir killed on Thursday a top commander of Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who allegedly was involved in several attacks in the disputed region in recent years, an official said.
China, Germany agree Syria needs political solution
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on Thursday that there must be a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
Australia to join Chinese navy exercises in South China Sea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Two Australian warships will hold exercises with the Chinese navy in the South China Sea next week, Australia’s defense minister said on Thursday, just days after a U.S. navy patrol near a man-made Chinese island in the disputed wate…
Argentina’s Massa to election rivals: Want my voters? Heed my ideas
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Defeated Argentine presidential hopeful Sergio Massa unveiled key policy demands on Wednesday and said his 5 million supporters would vote in next month’s run-off election based on how the two remaining candidates respond.
Top Massa allies snub ruling party candidate in Argentina run-off
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli’s hunt for swing voters in Argentina’s presidential run-off vote suffered a blow on Wednesday when two of defeated candidate Sergio Massa’s top allies said they would not vote for him.
Greek coastguard rescues 242 migrants as boat sinks, three drown
ATHENS (Reuters) – The Greek coastguard rescued 242 migrants when their wooden boat sank north of the island of Lesbos on Wednesday, but at least three drowned, including two small boys, authorities said.
U.N. investigator questions if Myanmar poll can be free and fair
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A United Nations rights investigator raised concern on Wednesday about whether Myanmar’s election next month could be considered free and fair because dozens of candidates had been disqualified and hundreds of thousands of pe…
Erdogan says Turkey may hit U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds to block advance
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey will “do what is necessary” to prevent U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish rebels from declaring autonomy in the town of Tel Abyad near the Turkish border, including conducting further military operations, President Tayyip Erdogan sa…
