Australia keen to join India, U.S. naval drills
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Australia wants to join India, the United States and Japan in joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, widening participation in multilateral drills as China’s influence in the region grows.
China building two aircraft carriers: Taiwan defense ministry report
TAIPEI (Reuters) – China is building two aircraft carriers that will be the same size as its sole carrier, a 60,000-tonne refurbished Soviet-era ship, according to a new Taiwanese Defence Ministry report on the capabilities of the People’s Liberation A…
New Zealand slashes aid to Nauru over human rights concern
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand said on Thursday it was cutting NZ$1.2 million ($762,500)in aid to Nauru, slashing its budget for helping the island nation by more than half over concern about a growing crackdown on human rights.
Australia under fire for lobbying on California kangaroo trade
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Australian government is under fire for lobbying the California legislature to stop a ban on the sale of kangaroo products in the U.S. state, a restriction the industry argues would cripple exports of the marsupials’ meat and lea…
Taiwan to launch homegrown submarine plan with initial T$3 billion budget
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan has allocated T$3 billion ($92.55 million) over four years, beginning next year, to launch a long-awaited program for the island to build its own diesel-electric submarines.
Guatemala judge orders detention of President Perez in graft scandal
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – A Guatemalan judge has issued a detention order for President Otto Perez, the attorney general´s office said on Wednesday, amid a graft scandal that has gutted his government and plunged Guatemala into chaos days before a presidential election.
Could TripAdvisor-style ratings save migrant workers from slavery?
BOGOR, Indonesia (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A Mexican migrant paid a recruiter thousands of dollars for work in the United States, only to endure slavery, time in jail and finally deportation.
White House says Obama, Saudi’s Salman will discuss energy market
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will discuss the global energy market with Saudi’s King Salman when the two leaders meet at the White House on Friday, Obama’s deputy national security advisor, Ben Rhodes, said on Wednesday.
China to put on huge show of force for World War Two anniversary
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will put on its biggest display of military might on Thursday in a parade to commemorate victory over Japan in World War Two, an event shunned by Western leaders but which underscores Beijing’s growing confidence in its armed …
War stops 13 million going to school in Middle East, North Africa: U.N.
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Conflicts across the Middle East and North Africa are preventing more than 13 million children from attending school, leaving their hopes and futures shattered, the United Nations Children’s Fund said in a report issued on Thursday.
