Detained Iraqi Shi’ite militia chief threatens to kill politicians
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A Shi’ite militia leader arrested in Iraq after his group fired mortars into Saudi Arabia has said leaders of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s political bloc will be killed unless he is released within 24 hours.
U.S. drones killed no more than four civilians in Pakistan in 2013: study
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – U.S. CIA drone strikes against militants in Pakistan killed no more than four civilians last year, according to an annual study by a British-based organization, the lowest number of reported civilian deaths since the drone program…
South Koreans seethe, sue as credit card details swiped
SEOUL (Reuters) – The theft of personal information from more than 100 million South Korean credit cards and accounts, reportedly including those of President Park Geun-hye and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, has ignited a storm of anger and litigation against c…
U.S. offers to send envoy to North Korea to free jailed missionary
SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States has offered to send a special envoy to North Korea to win the release of a jailed missionary, but signaled that any meaningful talks with Pyongyang will require it to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
China to start regular patrols from island in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will base a 5,000-tonne civilian patrol ship on one of the main islands it controls in the disputed South China Sea and begin regular patrols, an official newspaper said on Tuesday, a move likely to add fuel to territorial dis…
Pakistan bombs militant hideouts in tribal area after Taliban attacks
PESHAWAR/DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan fighter jets bombed suspected Taliban hideouts in a tribal area on the Afghan border on Tuesday killing at least 15 people, military sources and residents said, after a wave of insurgent attacks …
China has ‘complete faith’ in Sochi security
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is confident that Russia will be able to guarantee security at next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, officials said on Tuesday.
Tokyo pushing ahead with U.S. base relocation plan despite election loss
TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo is pushing ahead with plans to relocate a controversial U.S. base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, despite the weekend re-election of a mayor strongly opposed to the move, and on Tuesday invited tenders for the first …
Japan PM may attend Sochi Games, China says no plans to meet Xi
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may attend the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics, but China has ruled out any formal meeting with President Xi Jinping whose attendance at the Games has already been confirmed.
U.S. military says readying plans for Olympic security assistance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military said on Monday that air and naval assets, including two ships in the Black Sea, would be made available if needed during the Sochi Winter Olympics in support of Russia, which faces militant threats to disrupt th…
