Vietnam frees anti-state blogger, U.S. calls for more releases
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam has released a high-profile blogger who has traveled to the United States, the American embassy said on Sunday, but a human right group said the move extended a “cynical” practice by Hanoi to send its critics into exile.
At least five killed in suicide bomb attack in northern Cameroon
YAOUNDE (Reuters) – At least five people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on Sunday in the northern Cameroon town of Mora, military sources said, in what appeared to be the latest cross-border attack by Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist militant group….
Saudi-led coalition denies attacking home of Oman envoy to Yemen
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Saudi-led coalition has denied its warplanes bombed the Omani ambassador’s home in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, target of months of its air strikes, and called for an investigation, Saudi media reported on Sunday.
Australia drafts ruthless Mr Fix-it to tackle budget as economy slows
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s new treasurer is a ruthless “Mr Fix-it” with a record of being parachuted into troubled portfolios.
Australian PM appoints immigration hard-man Morrison as new treasurer
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday appointed Scott Morrison treasurer, handing the conservative lawmaker the top economic job in his new cabinet in an effort to mend party divisions following the ouster of Tony Ab…
Australian defense minister says loses portfolio under new PM
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australian Defense Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed on Sunday that he had lost his portfolio under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, saying he was disappointed his offer to work with the new Liberal leader had been refused.
Thaksin tells Thailand’s red shirt opposition: ‘play dead’… for now
UDON THANI, Thailand (Reuters) – From self-imposed exile, the influential leader of Thailand’s rural “red shirt” opposition movement has delivered a simple message to followers chafing at the military junta’s iron rule: lay low for now, don’t panic, “p…
Pope tells U.S. and Cuba to push detente further
HAVANA (Reuters) – Pope Francis exhorted Cuba and the United States on Saturday to set an example for the world by deepening the recent rapprochement that he helped secretly broker between the former Cold War foes.
Four funerals and a wedding: China’s Xi mends political bridges
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the funeral earlier this year of a one-time propaganda minister was a surprise; Deng Liqun, who died aged 99, was never a top-ranked official and had been a political enemy of Xi’s father…
FBI launches investigation into Malaysian state fund 1MDB: WSJ
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation into allegations of money-laundering at troubled Malaysian state fund 1MDB, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday citing an unidentified source.
