German hostage says being held in hole by Philippine Islamists
MANILA (Reuters) – One of two Germans held captive by an Islamist militant group in the Philippines said on Wednesday he was being held in a hole in the ground which he had been told would be his grave if ransom demands were not met.
Denmark lobbies for top post at the U.N.’s shipping organization
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark and its maritime industry are lobbying to get the top position at the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations body that wields great influence over global shipping through its regulations, industry sources s…
Leader of Thai junta hints at delay in return to elections
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a military coup in May, said on Wednesday that elections planned for 2015 will depend on whether wide-ranging national reforms can be completed within a year.
Saudi Arabia sentences outspoken Shi’ite cleric to death: brother
RIYADH (Reuters) – A Saudi judge sentenced to death a prominent cleric on Wednesday who has called for greater rights for the kingdom’s Shi’ites, the cleric’s brother said, two years after his arrest prompted deadly protests in the oil-producing east o…
Japan’s nuclear restart unlikely this year, local vote expected in December
SATSUMASENDAI Japan (Reuters) – As Japan pitches an unpopular nuclear restart to residents near Kyushu Electric Power Co’s Sendai plant, local politicians say approval is unlikely until December, delaying an already fraught process to revive the countr…
North, South Korea militaries hold talks after border firing
SEOUL (Reuters) – High-ranking military officials from North and South Korea met on Wednesday to discuss recent border altercations including exchanges of fire but they did not resolve their differences, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said.
Bomber in Pakistan kills seven in attack on pro-government militia
PESHAWAR Pakistan (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed seven people in Pakistan on Wednesday in an attack on a government-backed militia near the Afghan border, security officials and residents said.
Houthi rebels take over Yemen’s Hodeidah port: residents
SANAA (Reuters) – The Shi’ite Muslim Houthi movement which seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa last month has extended its control to the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, deploying checkpoints and also taking control of the city’s airport, local officials said.
India state elections could unlock Modi reform push
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Indian voters from two states headed to the polls on Wednesday for the first major elections since Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed to power five months ago, in a test of support that could unlock a round of delayed economic refo…
Japan’s Abe seeks talks with Russia’s Putin; No TPP proposals with Obama
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he hopes to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming Asia-Europe summit.
