Philippine army kills 14 Islamic militants
MANILA (Reuters) – U.S.-trained army commandos on Thursday killed 14 Islamist militants belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the first major battle this year on a remote southern island, as the Philippines stepped up efforts to rescue f…
North Korea shipping firm skirts sanctions by renaming ships: U.N. panel
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.N.-blacklisted North Korean shipping company has renamed most of its vessels in a bid to disguise their origin and continues its illicit shipments in violation of United Nations sanctions, according to a U.N. experts repo…
Mongolia pardons American accused of tax evasion involving SouthGobi Resources
ULAN BATOR (Reuters) – Mongolian President Elbegdorj Saikhanbileg has pardoned an American who was jailed over allegations of tax evasion involving SouthGobi Resources Ltd, the U.S. Embassy in Ulan Bator said in a statement.
Dozens of suspected militants killed in Egypt’s North Sinai: sources
ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) – Egypt’s military killed dozens of suspected Islamist militants in an operation in Sinai, security sources said on Wednesday, while state media reported the kidnapping of a businessman in the region.
Japan education minister denies illegal funds report
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s education minister denied on Thursday a report by a weekly magazine that he illegally received political funds, just days after the farm minister resigned over similar allegations.
Ukraine heaps on economic pressure as central bank confuses, truce takes hold
KIEV/MAKIYVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine came under greater economic pressure after unexpectedly banning most currency trading and then abruptly reversing course, wreaking havoc on the hryvnia, just as a truce in the east took hold on Wednesday with …
Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew still in intensive care-statement
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s first prime minister and the man widely credited with the city-state’s economic success, Lee Kuan Yew, is still on mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit in hospital, the prime minister’s office said on Thurs…
‘Stay tuned’ as China readies to publish corruption confessions
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog has opened a new front in its campaign against corruption, announcing it will publish confessions by corrupt officials to warn and educate others.
Colombia peace deal should ensure criminals held to account: Annan
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Those responsible for crimes committed during Colombia’s 50-year war must be held accountable as part of a peace deal between the government and Marxist rebels, ex-United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday.
U.S. condemns Islamic State attacks on Christian villages in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday condemned recent attacks by Islamic State militants on Assyrian Christian villages in northeastern Syria, which it said included the burning of homes and churches and abduction of women, children an…
