Vietnam warships visit Philippines amid South China Sea dispute
MANILA (Reuters) – Vietnam on Tuesday showed off its two most powerful warships in the first-ever port call to the Philippines but an official said it was not trying to challenge China’s superior naval forces amid tension in the South China Sea.
Modi gives Buddha a miss as South Asian leaders flock to Nepal
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Visiting Nepal for a South Asia summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dropped plans to hold rallies at the birthplaces of the Buddha and a Hindu goddess, after controversy over whether he was gaining too much prominence …
Philippines lifts immigration ban on nine Hong Kong journalists
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines on Tuesday lifted the immigration ban on nine Hong Kong journalists who heckled President Benigno Aquino during a meeting of the APEC group in Bali, Indonesia last year.
Turkey, U.S. ease strains on Islamic State but differences remain
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey and the United States smoothed over some differences in the fight against Islamic State during a weekend visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, but the talks heralded little in the way of deeper military cooperation between…
Portugal ex-PM charged with corruption, to remain in custody
LISBON (Reuters) – A Portuguese judge on Monday charged former Prime Minister Jose Socrates with corruption and tax fraud and ordered that he remain in preventive custody.
Iran nuclear talks extended seven months after failing to meet deadline
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran and six powers failed on Monday for a second time this year to resolve their 12-year stand-off over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and gave themselves seven more months to clinch an historic deal.
Canada ups spending plans as PM says on track to balance budget
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, gearing up for an election next October and taking advantage of improving federal finances, announced C$5.8 billion ($5.1 billion) in new spending on Monday.
Mired in crisis, Mexican president aided by discredited opposition
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Deep anger over the apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers has plunged Mexico’s Enrique Pena Nieto into his worst crisis as president, but with no credible opposition in sight, mass protests look unlikely to force him from pow…
EU lawmakers trade insults, Juncker set to survive censure motion
STRASBOURG (Reuters) – A no-confidence motion in the EU’s new chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker had no chance of success after the Eurosceptic lawmakers who brought it traded insults with the bigger parties in the European Parliament on Monday.
Role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to shift to training: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will shift in 2015 to training Afghan security forces and counter-terrorism activities, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday.
