Thai panel drops plan to ban junta from politics for two years
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A panel appointed by Thailand’s military government to draft a constitution said on Friday it would drop a proposal to ban members of the junta from politics for two years to prevent them from holding on to power.
Japan, China to hold first security talks in four years
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese and Chinese officials will hold their first security talks in four years in Tokyo later this month, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, the latest sign of a possible improvement in ties strained by a territorial disput…
Good deal is at hand in Iran nuclear talks – EU’s Mogherini
RIGA (Reuters) – A good deal is at hand in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Friday.
Vietnam party chief to make U.S. trip, still at odds over human rights
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s Communist Party chief will visit the United States this year, Washington’s ambassador said on Friday, in a landmark trip underlining a rapid strengthening of ties between former foes still at odds over human rights.
Former China leader not implicated in aide’s investigation, official says
BEIJING (Reuters) – Retired Chinese President Hu Jintao is not being implicated in a corruption probe into a former top aide, a senior government spokesman said on Friday, adding that the official was being investigated more over financial issues than …
Tajik opposition leader shot dead in Istanbul: Turkish media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Tajik opposition leader Umarali Kuvvatov has been shot dead by an unknown assailant on an Istanbul street, Turkey’s private Dogan news agency said on Friday.
Japan eyes MI6-style spy agency as it seeks to shed pacifist past
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is looking into creating an overseas intelligence agency possibly modeled on Britain’s MI6 spy service, ruling party lawmakers say, 70 years after Allied victors dismantled Japan’s fearsome military intelligence apparatus follow…
China’s No. 3 leader warns HK activists against ‘crossing a line’
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s third-ranked leader warned advocates of Hong Kong independence on Friday that they were “crossing a line”, local media reported.
Philippine offensive against Muslim rebels displaces thousands
MANILA (Reuters) – A Philippine army offensive against a Muslim rebel faction has forced 70,000 people from their homes, a district governor said on Friday as he appealed for an end to the fighting, saying he was running out of money to feed the displa…
Bangladesh seizes $1.4 million in gold from North Korean diplomat
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s customs officers caught a North Korean diplomat trying to smuggle an estimated $1.4 million worth of gold into the country, a senior official said on Friday.
