North Korea conducts firing drills near disputed border with South
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea conducted live fire drills on Tuesday in two areas near a disputed sea border with South Korea that have been the scene of deadly clashes and where they fired hundreds of artillery rounds only weeks ago.
Malaysia names leader for MH370 international investigation team
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has hired Kok Soo Chon, a former director-general at the department of civil aviation, to lead the international investigation team tasked to find the cause of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the g…
China’s president says Xinjiang is front line on terrorism, hails police
BEIJING (Reuters) – Police are the “fists and daggers” in the fight against terrorism, China’s President Xi Jinping said on a trip to the western Xinjiang region where authorities say members of a Muslim minority are waging a violent separatist campaig…
Israeli forces raze West Bank mosque as peace talks deadline expires
KHIRBET AL-TAWEEL, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli forces demolished several structures, including a mosque, in a Palestinian village on Tuesday, the day a deadline for a deal in now-frozen peace talks expired.
Yemeni army in major ground offensive against al Qaeda
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni troops, backed by air force planes, launched a major offensive against al Qaeda strongholds in the south of the country on Tuesday to try to eradicate the Islamist militant group that had killed hundreds since 2011.
Turkey to seek extradition of U.S.-based cleric Gulen: Erdogan
ANKARA (Reuters) – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey will begin a legal process for the extradition of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally and now arch-foe whom Erdogan accuses of orchestrating a campaign to unse…
U.S. sanctions Putin allies as Ukraine violence goes on
DONETSK/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – The United States imposed new sanctions on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, prompting Moscow to denounce “Cold War” tactics amid more violence in eastern Ukraine.
Indonesia’s jails former energy regulator chief for graft
JAKARTA (Reuters) – The former head of Indonesia’s energy regulator was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday for his role in a major graft scandal that reached the top levels of the oil ministry.
Hong Kong woman faces additional charges in maid abuse case
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong woman charged with assaulting her domestic helper was charged on Tuesday with failing to pay wages and not granting public holiday leave in a case that has triggered outrage and highlighted the rights of maids.
Obama says U.S. commitment to defend Philippines ‘ironclad’
MANILA (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday a new military pact between the United States and the Philippines is testimony to America’s “ironclad” commitment to defend the southeast Asian nation.
