Japan, Philippines to deepen ties as China asserts sea claims
TOKYO/MANILA (Reuters) – Japan and the Philippines are set to bolster security ties when President Benigno Aquino visits Tokyo next week, the latest move by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to beef up cooperation with Southeast Asian nations facing China’s gr…
Britain to host state visit of Chinese President Xi in October
LONDON (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Britain for a state visit in October, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday, 10 years after the last such visit by a Chinese president.
Indonesia anti-graft agency braces for challenges after court ruling
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s main anti-graft agency is bracing for a flood of legal challenges from corruption convicts and suspects after a court verdict threw into question the legitimacy of its investigations, a senior official said on Wednesday….
Philippine, Vietnamese troops play soccer and sing on disputed island
MANILA (Reuters) – Vietnamese and Philippine troops played soccer and sang karaoke on a South China Sea island on Wednesday in a sign of the growing security ties between the two Southeast Asian nations most at odds with Beijing over the contested wate…
Singapore detains two ‘self-radicalized’ teens, one aimed to join Islamic State
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore has detained two “self-radicalized” teenagers, one of whom wanted to join Islamic State militants in Syria, under an internal security law that allows for detention without trial for two years, the Ministry of Home Affai…
Israel, Palestinians pull back after Gaza exchange of fire
GAZA (Reuters) – Israel and Palestinian militants appeared to be pulling back on Wednesday from further hostilities after Israel responded with air strikes to a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.
One Ukrainian serviceman killed in eastern Ukraine: Kiev military
KIEV (Reuters) – One Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and eight other have been wounded in attacks by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire, a Kiev military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Madagascar’s parliament votes to impeach president
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar’s parliament voted to impeach President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, threatening to derail rebuilding efforts after years of crisis.
Afghan Taliban gunmen killed after attack on Kabul guesthouse
KABUL (Reuters) – Four Taliban insurgents armed with assault rifles and a grenade launcher stormed a guesthouse in the diplomatic quarter of the Afghan capital overnight and held out for hours until they were killed by government forces early on Wednes…
Zanzibar police beef up fight against sexual, physical abuse of women
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – – Natasha Ali was devastated when she realized the man accused of snatching her 14-year-old daughter off a street in Zanzibar and raping her had been freed for lack of evidence.
