Business leaders say clock is ticking for embattled Australian PM Abbott
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian business leaders are fuming over government instability that has become “poisonous” for investor confidence, and doubt that conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott can reverse his leadership’s downward spiral within six mo…
China plans international tourism zone with North Korea, Russia: state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is planning an international tourism zone in its northeastern border area with Russia and North Korea, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, in Pyongyang’s latest push for new investment.
Exclusive: Indonesia president says to drop police chief nominee – palace sources
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s new president has decided to drop his nominee for national police chief who is under investigation for corruption, palace officials say, in the biggest political test for the leader since taking office.
Rights group urges Thai lawmakers to drop plan for military detention of civilians
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s legislators should scrap a proposal for the military to detain civilians for up to three months with no judicial oversight, rights group Human Rights Watch said on Friday.
With eye on Japan, China plans big military parades under Xi: sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese troops are rehearsing for a major parade in September where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to unveil new homegrown weapons in the first of a series of public displays of military might planned during Presiden…
China’s President Xi to visit Pakistan this year
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan this year in what will be the first trip by a Chinese head of state to its western neighbor in nine years, as Beijing looks to take a bigger role in South Asia.
Sri Lanka minister optimistic about delaying war-crimes report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said on Thursday he was optimistic about securing a delay in the release of a U.N. report on alleged war crimes during his country’s civil war until the government has had time to e…
Islamic State fighters seize parts of western Iraqi town: officials
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State insurgents took control on Thursday of large parts of the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, threatening an air base where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, officials said.
‘Glimmer of hope’ for Ukraine after new ceasefire deal
MINSK (Reuters) – Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a deal offering a “glimmer of hope” for an end to conflict in eastern Ukraine, but the United States and NATO said further intense fighting on Thursday ran counter to the spirit of the acc…
Greece agrees to talk to creditors in EU debt progress
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Greece agreed on Thursday to talk to its creditors about the way out of its hated international bailout in a political climbdown that could prevent its new leftist-led government running out of money as early as next month.
