Lebanese presidential vote delayed as deputies boycott vote
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese politicians abandoned their second attempt to elect a new president on Wednesday after dozens of deputies boycotted a parliamentary vote to choose a successor to President Michel Suleiman.
Philippines says U.S. obligated to help in case of attack
MANILA (Reuters) – The United States has a treaty obligation to help the Philippines in case of an attack on its territory or armed forces in the South China Sea, the Philippine foreign minister said on Wednesday, rejecting questioning of a security pa…
Searchers dismiss possibility wreckage in Bay of Bengal is from MH370
(Reuters) – A private company said it had found what it believes is wreckage of a plane in the Bay of Bengal that should be investigated as potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, but the possibility was dismissed by search coordi…
Korea ferry disaster exposes cozy industry ties, soft penalties
SEOUL (Reuters) – A culture of cozy personal ties that can blur the lines between businesses and those regulating them, of profit over safety, and soft courts is in focus as South Korea demands answers over the sinking of a ferry with the loss of more …
Fire kills 10 at Russian arms depot, briefly halts Transsiberian railway
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Explosions caused by a fire killed at least 10 people at a munitions depot in eastern Siberia and temporarily closed a section of the Transsiberian railway, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.
Philippines troops exchange mortar fire with militants, 15 dead
MANILA (Reuters) – At least 15 people were killed when security forces and Islamist militants exchanged mortar fire for three hours on Tuesday in a remote southern Philippine island, a marine general said on Wednesday, claiming the rebels were trying t…
Kerry to resume Mideast peace talks after a pause
NEW YORK (Reuters) – To both critics and supporters, it was “classic” John Kerry.
Shootouts claim 14 lives in northern Mexican border city
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least 14 people were killed in a series of shootouts in the northern Mexican border city of Reynosa on Tuesday as gunmen battled police in a region racked by violence between warring drug gangs.
Santos holds lead in Colombia election opinion poll but rival gains
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos maintained his clear lead in voting intentions ahead of May 25 elections, a Gallup poll published on Tuesday showed, but his nearest rival, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, continued to gain support.
U.N. chief urges South Sudan’s Kiir help end violence, anti-U.N. campaign
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday to publicly call for an end to a “negative campaign” against U.N. peacekeepers and to bring to justice those responsible for attacks there o…
