Manila’s Aquino says military upgrade not aimed at neighbors
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino told his country’s neighbours on Thursday that efforts to modernise the military were not aimed at them but rather at strengthening national defence capabilities and tackling disasters.
French center-right wants Sarkozy re-election despite legal woes: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – A clear majority of French center-right voters want former president Nicolas Sarkozy to seek re-election in 2017 and his support has grown despite legal troubles facing him and his party, an opinion survey showed on Thursday.
Thailand’s ex-PM Yingluck given permission to leave country
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military rulers have given permission to former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe where she is expected to attend the birthday party of her brother Thaksin, also a deposed former premier, officers sai…
Militants killed after audacious attack on Kabul airport
KABUL (Reuters) – Militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital on Thursday in one of the most audacious assaults on the facility, used by both civilians and the military, in a year.
South Korea to scrap rice import caps from start of next year: reports
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea will on Friday announce plans to scrap caps on rice imports from the start of 2015, instead managing shipments into the country using a system of steep tariffs, domestic media including the state Yonhap news agency reporte…
Seven people die in Poland after falling into cesspit
WARSAW (Reuters) – Seven people in Poland were killed after falling into a septic tank where they were overcome by toxic gas, rescue services said on Thursday.
Kosovo parliament convenes, opposition seeks coalition deal
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo took a step towards forming a new government on Thursday when parliament convened for the first time since indecisive June polls, with the opposition seeking a majority to take power from outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci…
U.S. hits oil giant Rosneft, other firms with toughest Russia sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama imposed the biggest package of U.S. economic sanctions yet on Russia on Wednesday, hitting Russia’s largest oil producer Rosneft and other energy, financial and defense firms, with what he called significan…
U.S. sanctions set to slow Rosneft’s dollar debt, not oil deals
NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Barack Obama aimed a direct blow at Russia’s economic heart on Wednesday with sanctions on Rosneft, the flagship oil giant that generates more than 4 percent of the world’s crude and over 8 percent of the country’s GDP.
Attorney says Bergdahl grateful to Obama for freedom
SALMON Idaho (Reuters) – U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is grateful to President Barack Obama for the prisoner exchange that freed him from five years as a captive of the Taliban and wishes for privacy concerning family matters, his attorney said on …




