For wandering tankers with $300 million of Kurdish crude, end-game still in doubt
LONDON (Reuters) – After a legal show-down in Texas this week, the outlook for a handful of tankers holding some $300 million worth of Kurdish oil is not looking good.
Japan offers vessels to Vietnam to boost its sea strength
HANOI (Reuters) – Japan will give six navy boats to Vietnam to boost its patrols and surveillance in the South China Sea, Japan’s foreign minister said on Friday, in the latest sign of a strengthening of alliances between states locked in maritime rows…
China’s Xi pledges hard strike against military corruption
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to strike hard against graft in the military, urging soldiers to banish corrupt practices and ensure their loyalty to the ruling Communist Party, state media reported on Friday.
Fresh cabinet casualty as Trinidad sports minister quits
PORT OF SPAIN Trinidad (Reuters) – Trinidad and Tobago’s sports minister resigned on Thursday after a government probe found fraud in one of his ministry’s programs, becoming the 12th member of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s cabinet to quit or…
China lifts air control measures caused by military drills
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China will on Friday lift air traffic control measures imposed to allow military drills and which have caused major delays and cancellations of flights, raising concerns over airline earnings.
Family of American held in North Korea says worried by health reports
(Reuters) – The family of a U.S. missionary imprisoned in North Korea said on Thursday it was “devastating” to read an interview published in a Japanese newspaper in which he said his health had deteriorated and he felt abandoned by the U.S. government…
Israel, Palestinian militant groups agree to three-day Gaza truce
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip have agreed to a three-day humanitarian truce to begin Friday morning, and negotiators from both sides will travel to Cairo to discuss a longer-term.
India, U.S. stress strategic ties but tensions remain
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The United States and India stressed their desire to boost business and defense ties on Thursday, but trade and spying rows were a reminder of the obstacles to President Barack Obama’s vision of a “defining” partnership.
Game of thrones: Afghan leadership vacuum raises summit questions
KABUL (Reuters) – Who, if anyone, will represent Afghanistan at next month’s NATO summit is becoming an increasingly pressing and awkward question for the alliance, as it seeks to withdraw most of its troops and bring a long and deadly engagement close…
Taiwan gas blast kills 15, injures 243: local media
TAIPEI (Reuters) – An explosion caused by a gas leak in the southern Taiwanese city Kaohsiung has killed 15 people and injured another 243, Taiwanese media reported on Friday.
