Armed militias hold Libya hostage
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – When a militia holding Libya’s eastern ports loaded a North Korean-flagged tanker with oil earlier this month, the Libyan parliament sacked its own prime minister and turned to U.S. commandos to bring its cargo back.
Philippine ship dodges China blockade to reach South China Sea outpost
SECOND THOMAS SHOAL, South China Sea (Reuters) – The Philippine government vessel made a dash for shallow waters around the disputed reef in the South China Sea, evading two Chinese coastguard ships trying to block its path to deliver food, water and f…
Two Spanish journalists freed after over six months in Syria
MADRID (Reuters) – Two Spanish journalists held hostage in Syria by an al Qaeda-linked militant group for 194 days have been freed and handed over to the Turkish military in good health, one of the men told his employer El Mundo newspaper.
Obama-Saudi king talks may ease friction but no breakthrough seen
DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s leaders hope U.S. President Barack Obama and their King Abdullah understand each other better after talks and can stabilize a close regional security alliance after months of rockiness over Middle East policy, di…
Far-right group seals appeal among discontented Hungarians
ESZTERGOM, Hungary (Reuters) – To launch its campaign for Hungary’s parliamentary election, the far-right Jobbik party, accused by critics of anti-Semitism, chose as its venue a former synagogue with a plaque on the wall commemorating 500 local Jews ki…
North Korea condemns U.N., threatens a ‘new form’ of nuclear test
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea threatened on Sunday to conduct what it called “a new form of nuclear test”, raising the level of rhetoric after members of the United Nations Security Council condemned the North’s recent ballistic missile launch.
Thais vote for Senate ahead of crucial deadline for PM
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thais voted on Sunday for half of the country’s 150-seat Senate in a key test for Yingluck Shinawatra’s troubled government, a day before the prime minister is due to defend herself against negligence charges over a disastrous rice …
Exclusive: China seizes $14.5 billion assets from family, associates of ex-security chief – sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have seized assets worth at least 90 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) from family members and associates of retired domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is at the centre of China’s biggest corruption scandal in …
Tibetan Communist who urged reconciliation with Dalai Lama dies
BEIJING (Reuters) – Phuntso Wangye, a veteran Tibetan Communist leader who became an outspoken critic of Beijing’s hardline policies towards the Himalayan region, died on Sunday, his son said. He was 91.
Political newcomer Kiska trounces PM Fico in Slovak presidential election
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Philanthropist and former businessman Andrej Kiska trounced Prime Minister Robert Fico in Slovakia’s presidential election on Saturday as voters feared Fico and his center-left party would amass too much power.
