Putin’s spokesman casts doubt on Crimea report, says never heard of source
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said on Thursday he had no idea who the Ukrainian diplomat behind a news story that Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had reached an official deal on Crimea was.
China expresses concern about Indian plan to build border posts
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s defense ministry on Thursday expressed concern over reports that India plans to build 54 new border posts along their disputed border, long a source of tension between the two giant neighbors.
China says agrees with U.S. to speed up military conduct talks
BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the United States agreed at a meeting earlier this month in Washington to speed up talks on a mutual reporting mechanism on major military operations and a code of safe conduct, China’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
One year after devastating super typhoon, Philippines approves rebuilding plan
MANILA (Reuters) – Almost a year after a super typhoon devastated wide areas of the central Philippines killing thousands, President Benigno Aquino only this week approved a $3.74 billion master plan to rebuild housing, social services and public infra…
Egypt targets universities as last haven for political expression
CAIRO (Reuters) – Hundreds of police surround its walls, patrolling in armored vehicles with sirens blaring, while muscle-bound security guards man metal detectors, searching all who enter.
Egypt bans pro-Mursi pressure group
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt on Thursday banned a pressure group that has pushed for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was overthrown by the army last year, dealing a new blow to the country’s oldest Islamist moveme…
Pakistan civilians flee as military steps up Khyber offensive on Taliban
PESHAWAR Pakistan (Reuters) – Twenty-nine people were killed and thousands of civilians forced to flee Pakistan’s northwestern region of Khyber, the military said on Thursday, as it stepped up a two-week-old offensive against Taliban militants in the a…
China calls on Japan to end jet scrambles
BEIJING (Reuters) – China called on Japan on Thursday to stop scrambling its jets against Chinese aircraft following a rise in the number of such operations, saying it was source of flying safety concerns.
Pakistan civilians flee as military steps up Khyber offensive on Taliban
PESHAWAR Pakistan (Reuters) – Twenty-nine people were killed and thousands of civilians forced to flee Pakistan’s northwestern region of Khyber, the military said on Thursday, as it stepped up a two-week-old offensive against Taliban militants in the a…
U.S. drone strike kills five militants in Pakistan
WANA Pakistan (Reuters) – A suspected U.S. drone strike killed at least five militants in a Pakistani tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Thursday, with local villagers saying the dead included of a senior Arab commander.
