Malaysia PM announces panel to guide funding amid political crisis
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, under investigation for a 2.6 billion ringgit ($671 million) donation deposited into his private bank account, on Friday announced a committee to set guidelines on political funding.
Islamic State attacks in and around Iraqi refinery town
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants attacked the outskirts of Iraq’s northern oil refinery town of Baiji overnight with car bombs and clashed with the army and Shi’ite militias in the town’s western districts, the local mayor and security sourc…
Myanmar gags media linked to ousted ruling party leader, adding to concerns about reforms
NAYPYITAW (Reuters) – Myanmar has gagged media linked to parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann after he and his allies were dramatically purged from the leadership of the ruling party by President Thein Sein on Thursday months before a historic general elect…
Former IMF chief Rato fears for his safety: Spanish minister
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s interior minister on Friday denied interfering in a legal case against former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato, saying Rato had sought a controversial meeting with him because he feared for his safety.
Japan joins U.S.-Philippine humanitarian drills amid China sea dispute
SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Reuters) – Japan has joined U.S.-led maritime humanitarian exercises off the Philippines for the first time, as concerns mount among the three allies about China’s growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
Palestinian hunger striker loses consciousness in Israeli hospital
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A Palestinian detainee in the ninth week of his hunger strike fell unconscious at an Israeli hospital on Friday in a case that could test Israel’s new force-feeding law.
Thailand’s parliament votes not to ban 248 ex-lawmakers from politics
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s army-appointed parliament voted not to ban 248 ex-lawmakers from political office on Friday, a decision that should avert any immediate political unrest.
Rajapaksa ventures into Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heartland in comeback bid
KURUNEGALA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ventured out of his southern power base and into Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heartland in his bid to regain power in Monday’s parliamentary election, eight months after crashing to defea…
Three people killed, two wounded in attacks in Turkey’s southeast
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A Turkish soldier and two Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were killed in a spate of attacks in Turkey’s southeast, security sources said on Friday.
North Korea denies laying landmines in DMZ that wounded South soldiers
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea rejected on Friday accusations by South Korea that it was responsible for landmine explosions last week inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that wounded two South Korean soldiers.
