Top Taiwan-China relations officials to meet in February
TAIPEI (Reuters) – The top officials in Taiwan and China responsible for their relations are to meet for the first time in February in an effort to boost ties, Taiwan’s ruling party said on Wednesday.
Japan PM close to deal on controversial U.S. base on Okinawa
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday moved close to winning approval from the island of Okinawa on a replacement for a U.S. air base, a move that would resolve a nearly 20-year-old deadlock that has strained ties with Washi…
Thai PM unveils reform plan but protesters still threaten poll
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra unveiled a plan on Wednesday to create an independent reform council to try to appease opponents who, angered by her billionaire family’s political dominance, are calling for her resignation.
Ukraine expects remaining $12 billion of Russian bailout in early 2014
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine expects a $15 billion bailout package from Russia to be fully disbursed in early 2014, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Wednesday after Kiev received the first $3 billion tranche.
China arrests university official in new graft crackdown
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has arrested a vice president of a prestigious university for suspected corruption, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday, as the government turns its anti-graft campaign to the education sector.
U.N. sends more peacekeepers to South Sudan as violence spreads
JUBA/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council approved plans on Tuesday to almost double the number of peacekeepers in South Sudan in a bid to protect civilians from violence as reports of mass graves fueled fears of ethnic bloodshed in the…
Turkey vows no cover-up despite purge of graft investigators
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s president pledged on Tuesday there would be no cover-up in a high-level corruption case, despite a government-ordered purge of police investigating it that drew protests at home and a caution from the European Union.
Amid Nepal’s chaos, royalists spy chance for a comeback
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Just a few years ago, Nepal’s royal family looked consigned to the history books.
Egypt arrests Mursi’s ex-prime minister on his way to Sudan
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian security forces on Tuesday arrested the former prime minister of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi who was sentenced to one year in jail for failing to implement a court ruling to renationalize a textile firm.
Israeli civilian, Palestinian girl killed in Gaza flare-up
GAZA (Reuters) – A Gaza sniper shot dead an Israeli civilian over the border on Tuesday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed a Palestinian girl near one of the targets.
