Afghan election contenders in last-ditch bid to rescue power-sharing deal
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s rival presidential campaigns were holding last-ditch talks on Wednesday to rescue a deal on a national government after a disputed election raised fears of exacerbating ethnic divisions.
Japan PM Abe appoints China-friendly lawmakers to key posts
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe picked two veteran lawmakers with friendly ties to China for top party posts on Wednesday in an apparent signal of hope for a thaw in chilly ties with Beijing and a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinp…
Thai junta may lift martial law in tourist areas
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military government is considering lifting martial law in some provinces, particularly in those that attract a lot of tourists, a junta spokesman said on Wednesday.
First post-97 Chinese leader, last governor make pleas for Hong Kong
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s first Chinese leader after the end of British rule appealed to all sides in the democracy dispute to work together on Wednesday as the last colonial governor said China must stand by its promises.
South Korea soldiers die in endurance training in latest mishap for military
SEOUL (Reuters) – Two South Korean soldiers have died after apparent suffocation during training to withstand capture by an enemy, a military official said, in the latest mishap to hit armed forces already battling charges of physical abuse and lax ove…
South Korea soldiers die in endurance training in latest mishap for military
SEOUL (Reuters) – Two South Korean soldiers have died after apparent suffocation during training to withstand capture by an enemy, a military official said, in the latest mishap to hit armed forces already battling charges of physical abuse and lax ove…
Deputy PM Bienkowska is Poland’s candidate for EU commission -state agency
WARSAW (Reuters) – Deputy Prime Minister Elzbieta Bienkowska is Poland’s candidate to become one of the new European commissioners, state agency PAP said on Wednesday, heralding further change at the top of the country’s government.
Indonesia’s energy minister made suspect in graft case
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency said on Wednesday the energy minister was a suspect in a case involving extortion and abuse of authority, the latest in a string of cases that have tainted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s fina…
Australia to sign civil nuclear deal with India; imposes Russia ban
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday he hoped to sign a deal this week to sell uranium to India for peaceful power generation, but halted uranium exports to Russia over Moscow’s role in Ukraine.
Thailand picks team for talks with Muslim rebels
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand will assemble a peace negotiating team by the end of the week to revive talks with Muslim separatists whose insurgency in the south of the country has cost thousands of lives in the past decade, the military junta said on W…
