Myanmar declares martial law in troubled Kokang region
KUNLONG, Myanmar (Reuters) – Myanmar President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law in a region near the Chinese border after more than 70 people were killed in fighting between the Myanmar army and a rebel group.
Thai government sets $240 million budget to combat drought
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s cabinet has approved a 7.8 billion baht ($240 million) budget to alleviate drought in the country and tackle “water emergencies”, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.
Khamenei vows firm Iranian nuclear stand, warns on gas exports
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Wednesday that his country would resist global sanctions imposed over its disputed nuclear program, saying that Iran might respond to international pressure by cutting back gas exp…
Solar to power thousands of off-grid homes in north Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province plans to supply solar power to 5,800 off-grid households in 200 villages, promoting clean energy amid conventional electricity shortages.
Some pro-government forces start pulling out of besieged Ukrainian town
KIEV (Reuters) – Some pro-government forces began on Wednesday to pull out of the east Ukrainian town of Debaltseve which is under siege from Russian-backed separatists, commanders of pro-government paramilitary units said.
Greece says will submit loan extension request on Wednesday
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s government confirmed it would ask on Wednesday for an extension to its loan agreement with the euro zone, which it distinguishes from its full bailout program, but faced strong opposition from Germany.
Afghans ordered out of Pakistan as ‘diversion’ in militant fight
PESHAWAR, Pakistan/TORKHAM, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Afghan immigrants ordered out of Pakistan in what officials say is a bid to root out militants are, some analysts say, scapegoats being used to distract attention from the authorities’ failure to end …
Blood-soaked truck symbolizes Boko Haram’s war without borders
WAZA, Cameroon (Reuters) – A Nigerian armored personnel carrier spattered with blood, riddled with bullets and towed into an army base in northern Cameroon is a potent reminder of Boko Haram’s ability to strike across borders in its six-year war for an…
Japan nuclear regulator advisers fear loss of its ‘essential’ independence
TOKYO (Reuters) – International advisers to Japan’s atomic regulator have raised concern a mandatory review of its performance could lead to a loss of independence for the body, which was set up in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Indonesia’s president drops controversial candidate for police chief
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday dropped his nominee for the post of national police chief after weeks of public outcry over the candidate’s implication in a bribery scandal.
