Japan ruling bloc signs off on security legislation, public split
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese ruling party officials signed off on Monday on bills to implement a drastic change in security policy that would expand the role of the nation’s military in the U.S.-Japan alliance and allow it to fight abroad for the first t…
Putin says Ukraine peace ‘moving forward’ despite problems
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday that the peace process in eastern Ukraine was progressing despite difficulties.
Malaysia detains 1,018 Bangladeshi and Rohingya refugees
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia detained 1,018 Bangladeshi and Rohingya refugees after they arrived in three boats on Monday, police said, a day after Indonesian authorities rescued 600 stranded off the coast of Aceh.
Cash aid feeds business surge in northeast Kenya
TURKANA, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When the government of Kenya began giving cash instead of food aid to poor people in Kenya’s drought-stricken North Eastern region, the aim was to help them buy food more efficiently and conveniently.
Malaysia grounds Airbus A400M after Spain crash: state news agency
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has grounded its Airbus A400M military transport plane following a crash involving a similar aircraft in Spain at the weekend, state news agency Bernama reported on Monday.
Exclusive: Widow of slain U.S.-Bangladeshi blogger lashes out at Dhaka
(Reuters) – On a recent evening in a Midwestern U.S. city, a middle-aged woman with bandaged arms and a missing thumb entered a crowded restaurant. Nearby, children colored with crayons. Waiters rushed by.
China invites Russian troops to march in war parade
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has invited Russian troops to march in a parade in Beijing in September to commemorate the end of World War Two, the Defence Ministry said on Monday, a move likely to further put off Western leaders from attending.
After Nepal disasters, more climbers eye Chinese route to Everest
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Climber Carsten Pedersen has not given up his childhood dream of scaling Everest, despite last month’s avalanche that killed 18 people at base camp after a devastating earthquake. But if he does try again, it may well be from Chin…
South Korea expresses concern over North’s submarine missile test
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Monday North Korea’s recent test-firing of a submarine-based ballistic missile is a “very serious and concerning matter”, although it also said Pyongyang’s capability with the weapon is at an early stage of develop…
Uganda’s ‘oil rush’ town stuck in the slow lane
HOIMA, Uganda (Reuters) – Before the discovery of large amounts of oil in Lake Albert, Hoima was a forlorn and remote town in Western Uganda, whose main sources of income were farming and the trickle of tourists heading to nearby national parks.
