China to push cultural ‘blending’ in Xinjiang stability push
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will push the study of Mandarin and the “blending” of different races as part of a new stability push in the troubled far western region of Xinjiang, the region’s top Communist Party official said in remarks published on Wedne…
Car bomb targeting police kills six people in Egypt
ISMAILIA (Reuters) – A car bomb targeting a policeman’s club in the Egyptian city of El Arish killed six people and wounded 10 on Wednesday, security sources said.
Defense Secretary Carter to cruise on U.S. warship near disputed sea
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and his Malaysian counterpart will cruise on the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday, a U.S. defense official said, for a voyage likely to highlight tension over rival claims in the South Chi…
Nearly 700 flights canceled as Bali airport closed over volcanic eruption
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia has closed Bali airport, one of its busiest international terminals, cancelling hundreds of flights, because of ash spewed by a volcano on a nearby island, authorities said on Wednesday.
Thailand investigates military officers in widening royal insult probe
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police on Wednesday said they were turning their attention to senior military officers as part of a major investigation into a network of people charged with insulting the monarchy.
Suu Kyi looks set to win Myanmar election, but problems loom
MYAUNGMYA, Myanmar (Reuters) – When Aung San Suu Kyi’s candidate emerges at a campaign rally in southern Myanmar, the crowd bursts into cheers and showers him with flowers, confident that the opposition will prevail this weekend after decades of strugg…
China lobbying to drop South China Sea from defense forum statement: U.S.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – China is lobbying Southeast Asian nations to drop any reference to concerns over the South China Sea in a statement to be issued after regional defense talks in Malaysia, a diplomatic push that reflects growing tension over Chi…
China urges U.S. not to threaten its sovereignty
BEIJING (Reuters) – Last week’s U.S. naval patrol in the South China Sea threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests, and the U.S. should not take any more dangerous actions that threaten China’s sovereignty, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wa…
Australian intelligence reports spike in ‘terrorism’ funding cases
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s anti-money laundering agency says reports of “terrorism-financing” cases have tripled in the past year, with around 100 people suspected of funneling over A$50 million ($35.92 million) out of the country to support Islami…
Spurred by Myanmar radicals, Thai Buddhists push for state religion status
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A campaign to enshrine Buddhism as Thailand’s state religion has been galvanized by a radical Buddhist movement in neighboring Myanmar that is accused of stoking religious tension, the leader of the Thai bid said.
