Japan PM sends offering to war dead shrine, angering China
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine on Friday, prompting sharp rebukes from China and South Korea even as Abe seeks meetings with their leaders to improve strained ties.
Renamo rejects Mozambique election result, African observers endorse vote
MAPUTO (Reuters) – Mozambique’s main opposition group Renamo on Friday rejected as fraudulent results showing the ruling Frelimo party had won national elections but African observers endorsed the vote as largely free and acceptable.
Lesotho’s king convenes parliament for first time since “coup”
MASERU (Reuters) – Lesotho’s king convened parliament on Friday for the first time since an alleged coup attempt in August as the southern African country strives to resolve political tensions before elections next year.
Defying Russia, Georgia to host NATO training center: minister
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia will not allow pressure from Russia to stop it hosting a NATO training center on its territory or deter its plans to deepen ties with the West, the former Soviet republic’s defense minister said.
China, Vietnam pledge to ‘address and control’ maritime disputes
BEIJING (Reuters) – China and Vietnam have agreed to “address and control” maritime disputes, state media said on Friday, as differences over the potentially energy-rich South China Sea have roiled relations between the two countries and other neighbor…
Myanmar rebels say military operations could end peace talks
YANGON (Reuters) – Peace talks between Myanmar’s military and ethnic minority insurgents may collapse if the army scales up operations in rebel-controlled areas, an organization representing rebel groups said on Friday.
Exclusive: Indonesia’s new president plans steep fuel price rises next month
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s President-elect Joko Widodo plans to raise subsidised gasoline and diesel prices by around 50 percent next month in a bid to bring down the budget deficit in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, an adviser told Reuters on F…
Nepal blizzard survivors recount ordeal, rescuers hunt for missing
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Trekkers battling a Himalayan blizzard were left helpless after porters fainted from the cold, a survivor of one of Nepal’s worst mountain disasters said on Friday, as rescue teams resumed a hunt for 10 missing hikers and the deat…
U.S. envoys to Japan, China, South Korea meet in Tokyo, see officials
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. ambassadors to Japan, China and South Korea are holding a regular meeting in Tokyo this week to discuss regional issues and are meeting a variety of experts and officials including Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, a spokes…
China jails reporter for defaming state-controlled construction firm Zoomlion
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese investigative journalist who wrote reports critical of a state-controlled construction equipment maker has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of defamation and bribery, according to state media on Friday.
