China premier says confident of peaceful growth in Taiwan ties
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that he was confident of the peaceful growth in relations with self-ruled Taiwan, an island China claims as its own, saying it was a historic trend that could not be reversed.
Thai constitution panel seeks two-year political ban for junta members
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A panel appointed by Thailand’s military government to draft a new constitution has proposed a two-year political ban for junta members to prevent them “hogging power”, the chairman said on Thursday.
Pakistan’s ruling party looks for gains in upper house election
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani lawmakers voted for new senators in parliament’s upper house on Thursday in an election that could strengthen Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s grip on power and increase his ability to pass important legislation.
Indonesia rejects Australian proposal of prisoner swap for death row pair
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia rejected on Thursday an Australian proposal for a prisoner swap made in an 11th hour effort to save the lives of two Australian drug smugglers expected to face a firing squad within days.
Two Germans to be caned, jailed for Singapore train graffiti
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A Singapore court sentenced two Germans to nine months in prison and three strokes of the cane on Thursday after they pleaded guilty to breaking into a depot and spray-painting graffiti on a commuter train carriage.
U.S. Syria strategy falters with collapse of rebel group
ISTANBUL/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Hazzm movement was once central to a covert CIA operation to arm Syrian rebels, but the group’s collapse last week underlines the failure of efforts to unify Arab and Western support for mainstream insurgents fighting th…
Syria opposition turns to internal opponents
PARIS (Reuters) – The head of Syria’s Western-backed political opposition is trying to ally with opposition groups based in Syria to boost its legitimacy and help revive peace talks that center on a political transition in the country.
North Korea to reopen Pyongyang marathon to foreign runners
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea is set to reopen an international marathon to overseas runners after ending a ban on most foreigners entering the country because of fears over the deadly Ebola virus, tour companies said on Thursday.
Modi to ramp up help for Indian Ocean nations to counter China influence
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer island nations in the Indian Ocean a broad range of military and civilian assistance next week in a bid to wrest back some of the influence China has gained by spending billions of dollars i…
Indonesia to announce execution date for foreign convicts ‘in a few days’
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s attorney general will decide in a few days on the date for the execution of up to 11 convicts, mostly foreigners, a government official said on Thursday.
