Japan, South Korea send conflicting signals on ‘comfort women’ feud
TOKYO (Reuters) – As Japan and South Korea near their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the two are sending conflicting signals over whether they can resolve a feud over “comfort women” forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels that has ch…
Russia may toughen counter-sanctions over Ukraine-Kremlin aide
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – Russia may toughen its response to sanctions imposed by the European Union over the crisis in Ukraine if the bloc extends its measures against Moscow, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday.
Malaysian navy in contact with pirates on hijacked tanker
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian naval vessel has made contact with the pirates onboard hijacked tanker Orkim Harmony and is trying to persuade them to surrender, a maritime official said on Thursday.
Security forces foil suicide attack in Somali town: police
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Security forces prevented a suicide attack against a political conference in central Somalia on Thursday, killing three gunmen and the driver of a car packed with explosives, police said.
Heads to roll in Indonesian government after poor performance, says official
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s president will soon fire several top government officials due to poor performance, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said on Thursday, paving the way for a possible cabinet reshuffle less than a year after taking office….
France says can’t confirm Algerian fighter killed in U.S. strike
PARIS (Reuters) – Algerian Islamist Mokhtar Belmokhtar was very likely killed by a U.S. strike in Libya but his death has not been confirmed, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.
Merkel wants to seal framework for US/EU trade deal by year end
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that Berlin was still aiming to reach a political framework for a comprehensive trade deal between the European Union and the United States by the end of this year.
Putin’s confrontation with West ‘artificial’: dissident Khodorkovsky
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confrontation with the West is “artificial” and aimed at protecting Russia’s ruling elite and distracting attention from a corrupt system, a former Russian oil tycoon said on Wednesday.
Islamic State car bombs kill or injure 50 in Yemeni capital
SANAA/GENEVA (Reuters) – Car bombs killed or injured at least 50 people near mosques and the headquarters of Yemen’s dominant Houthi group in Sanaa on Wednesday, in coordinated attacks claimed by Islamic State.
Four hurt in knife attack at Chinese market: police
BEIJING (Reuters) – A knife-wielding man injured four people, including one seriously, in southern China’s Guangxi region on Thursday, police said, the latest in a series of such attacks that have raised public concern.
