China’s Xi sidesteps SE Asia pressure over South China Sea disputes
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no sign of bending to Southeast Asian pressure to resolve increasingly irascible territorial disputes over the South China Sea on Thursday, simply repeating calls for dialogue.
Putin, Obama may discuss Syria next week in Bali: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama may discuss the Syria crisis on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit next week in Bali, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday.
Government ally jailed as India finally gets tough on graft
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – An Indian court sentenced a powerful ally of the ruling Congress party to five years in jail on Thursday for siphoning off state funds, underlining that a wave of public disgust with rampant corruption is finally catching up wit…
Pakistan, with thousands on death row, rules against death penalty
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan has scrapped plans to reinstate the death penalty, the government said on Thursday, following threats by Taliban militants to step up attacks in retaliation.
Slovenia PM threatens to quit over party leadership challenge
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said on Thursday she would quit the government if she loses a party leadership battle on October 19, in what would mark a blow to the country’s bid to avert an international bailout.
Death toll in Sicily migrant boat sinking reaches 42: coastguard
ROME (Reuters) – The death toll after a migrant boat sank off the coast of Sicily has risen to at least 42, with rescue operations continuing, an official from the Italian coastguard said on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia scrapped U.N. speech in protest over Syria and Israel
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s frustration at international inaction over Syria and the Palestinians led it to cancel its speech at the United Nations General Assembly for the first time ever this week, a diplomatic source said.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards probe officer’s ‘horrific’ death
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they were investigating the death of an officer in a “horrific incident”, but denied media reports it was an assassination.
U.S. talks with Iran must be based on concrete steps by Tehran: Kerry
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that the United States hopes to engage with the new Iranian administration, but Tehran must first prove it is willing to end the stand-off over its nuclear weapons program.
U.S., Japan to modernize alliance to counter 21st century threats
TOKYO (Reuters) – The United States and Japan agreed on Thursday to modernize their defense alliance for the first time in 16 years to address growing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program, global terrorism, cyber intrusions and other 21st centu…
