Thai students detained in Pakistan have no Islamic State links: government
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Five Thai students detained in Pakistan for trying to board a plane with a pistol and ammunition have no links to the Islamic State militant group or any criminal organization, a Thai government spokesman said on Friday.
Spain’s King strips title of duchess from his sister
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s King Felipe VI has stripped the title of duchess from his sister, the palace said, heaping pressure on Cristina de Borbon to give up her succession rights as she prepares to stand trial on tax fraud charges.
Japan to speed up return of Fukushima area evacuees
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan plans to revoke evacuation orders for most people forced from their homes by the Fukushima nuclear disaster within two years as part of a plan to cut compensation payouts and speed up reconstruction, the government said on Frida…
China detains nine for spreading rumors about the military
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have detained nine people for spreading rumors on the Internet that several military officers were involved in protests and for damaging the military’s image, the military’s official newspaper said on Friday.
Pressure mounting over Australian people-smuggler payment reports
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott declined to comment on Friday on reports the Australian navy paid a group of people-smugglers thousands of dollars to turn around their boat packed with asylum-seekers, adding to a furor over the…
Australia to expand on security crackdown with tougher new laws
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will expand a crackdown on Islamist militant groups with more tough security legislation, the attorney general told a regional summit aimed at combating violent extremism on Friday.
Strauss-Kahn awaits Friday vice trial verdict
PARIS (Reuters) – A French court rules on Friday whether former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is guilty of sex crimes and if the man once tipped to become president of his country goes to prison.
Longer-term aid needed to stem spike in baby deaths after disasters: experts
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Families hit by Nepal’s recent earthquakes risk losing their babies to hunger and disease over the next year unless they receive long-term help to boost their incomes and rebuild their homes, experts said.
Pentagon repeats call for China to end island building, seeks more military contact
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter met a top Chinese general on Thursday and repeated a U.S. call for a halt to land reclamation in the South China Sea while stressing that the Pentagon remained committed to expanding military con…
South Korea reports four new cases of MERS, total 126
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s Health Ministry reported on Friday four new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) bringing the total to 126, the world’s largest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia.
