Philippines says will exercise self-restraint in disputed seas
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Friday it would exercise self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea after China attempted to block a small government boat from delivering supplies to soldiers in Second Thomas Shoal.
Pakistan Taliban extend ceasefire for 10 days after prisoner release
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) – The Pakistani Taliban have extended their March ceasefire until April 10, a spokesman said Friday, following the release of a batch of low-level prisoners by the Pakistani government.
South Korea extending ballistic missile range to counter North’s threat
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea has test-fired a new ballistic missile with a range of 500 km (310 miles) and will try to extend the range to 800 km so it can strike any site in North Korea, its defense ministry said on Friday, days after Pyongyang fired…
Turkey’s Erdogan says favours keeping three-term limit for MPs
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he favored keeping a three-term limit for deputies in his ruling AK Party, comments which suggest he may not himself seek a fourth term and could instead be a candidate in August…
Ghost towns haunt South Africa’s strike-hit platinum belt
MARIKANA, South Africa (Reuters) – Shad Mohammed’s electronics and household store in South Africa’s platinum belt has survived a series of mining strikes over the 14 years it has been serving customers in the dusty town of Marikana.
U.S. to skip China fleet review after Japan shunned
HONOLULU (Reuters) – The United States is scrapping plans for a Navy ship to join a fleet review in China after key ally, Japan, was not invited, U.S. officials said on Thursday, in a move that came just ahead of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s trip to…
Cargo ship sinks off South Korea, 11 North Korean crew missing
SEOUL (Reuters) – A Mongolian-flagged cargo ship has sunk off the southern coast of South Korea, with most of the 16 North Korean crew members on board missing, South Korean coast guard officials said on Friday.
U.S. warns China not to attempt Crimea-style action in Asia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China should not doubt the U.S. commitment to defend its Asian allies and the prospect of economic retaliation should also discourage Beijing from using force to pursue territorial claims in Asia in the way Russia has in Crimea, …
Mongolian-flagged cargo ship with North Korean crew sinks off South Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – A Mongolian-flagged cargo ship with 16 North Korean crew members has sunk off the southern coast of South Korea, a South Korean coast guard official said on Friday.
Anti-Assad allies rebuff Syrian presidential election plan
PARIS (Reuters) – International powers who support the Syrian opposition have firmly rebuffed any idea of a presidential election organized by the Syrian government in the midst of a civil war, describing the plans as a “parody of democracy” that would…
