U.S. defense chief to visit Pakistan for talks with prime minister
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will travel to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other senior officials, the first Pentagon chief to make such a visit in nearly four years, a spokesman said.
Car bomb kills one and wounds five in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – One person was killed and five wounded in Libya’s eastern city Benghazi on Sunday when a car bomb exploded at a funeral for an assassinated army officer, security and medical sources said.
China bans shark fin dinners, suites for officials in latest crackdown
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have banned shark fin and bird’s nest soup from official receptions and told lower level officials they cannot stay in suites on business trips in the latest step in a crackdown on extravagance and waste.
South Korea expands air defense zone to partially overlap China’s
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Sunday it has extended its air defense zone to partially overlap with a similar zone declared by China two weeks ago that has sharply raised regional tensions.
Thai PM proposes referendum on her future as protesters prepare big push
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra proposed a referendum on her future on Sunday and promised to resign if that was what the people wanted, as anti-government protesters prepared for a final push to try to force her from power….
Cash-strapped Iranian students in U.S. hope nuclear deal will ease tuition woes
(Reuters) – When Mohammad Hamedi Rad arrived in the United States last year, he carried his Iranian passport, a hard-won student visa and a backpack containing $14,000 in hundred dollar bills, because there was no simpler way of getting money into the …
Iran president Rouhani targets stagflation in first budget
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani presented his first budget to parliament on Sunday, vowing to bring down inflation and boost growth to lift an economy reeling from sanctions and what he says was mismanagement by predecessor Mahmoud A…
Al Qaeda thrives in Yemen amid weak security, stalled dialogue
MANAMA (Reuters) – Brazen al Qaeda attacks on top government targets in Yemen are unlikely to abate while security services remain divided, ill-equipped and infiltrated by militants, and efforts to repair the country’s fractured political life remain s…
Insight: Family, politicians battle over “Brand Mandela”
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – From political posters to bottles of wine and kitchen aprons, the face and name of Nelson Mandela are a potent commercial and political brand in South Africa. Little wonder it’s so sought after – and the source of occasional sq…
South Korea to make announcement on air zone; expansion is anticipated
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea was scheduled to make an announcement on Sunday amid anticipation that it will expand its air defense zone south into a zone newly declared by China that has spurred regional tensions.
