Thai PM under siege, lengthy protests take toll on economy
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Protesters seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra surrounded Thai government headquarters on Monday in response to police efforts to clear them from the streets, as farmers besieged her temporary office to demand payment…
Iran says Russia could build nuclear reactor in exchange for oil
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia could build a second reactor at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in exchange for Iranian oil, the Iranian ambassador to Moscow said in remarks published on Monday.
Rassoul: U.S.-Afghan strains to ebb as foreign forces withdraw
KABUL (Reuters) – Severe strains in Afghan ties with the United States, the chief backer of the international military mission in Afghanistan, are likely to subside as U.S. and NATO forces depart, a contender in a presidential election in April said.
South Korean court sentences opposition lawmaker for rebellion
SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) – A South Korean court sentenced an opposition member of parliament to 12 years in jail on Monday for plotting a pro-North Korea rebellion, drawing criticism from rights campaigners who said the government was stifling free…
Peace talks between Pakistan and Taliban collapse after killings
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Peace talks between the Pakistani government and Taliban insurgents broke down on Monday, the government said, after insurgents executed 23 paramilitary soldiers in what they said was revenge for army operations in the volatile tr…
Iran’s Khamenei says not optimistic on nuclear talks: IRNA
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday he was not optimistic about upcoming nuclear talks with world powers but was not opposed to them, the official news agency IRNA reported.
China concerned at Japan holding weapons-grade plutonium
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Monday it was “extremely concerned” by a report that Japan has resisted returning to the United States more than 300 kg (660 lb) of mostly weapons-grade plutonium, the latest dispute between the two Asian neighbors.
Australia’s gone too far spying on shrimp trade talks, Indonesia says
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia described reports that Australia had listened in on government trade discussions with lawyers as mind-boggling, saying that to contend they had anything to do with security was going too far.
Asia-Pacific stability depends on success of ASEAN code of conduct -Kerry
JAKARTA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry increased diplomatic pressure on China on Monday to resolve maritime disputes with Southeast Asia based on international legal principles, rather than through individual deals as Beijing prefers.
Neither U.S. nor EU has strategy for Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – There’s nothing like an old-fashioned expletive to add spice to a transatlantic difference of opinion.
