German SPD counts votes on coalition with Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats began counting 330,500 postal ballots on Saturday sent in from grassroots members who are deciding whether their party should join a coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives.
Afghan president says U.S. indulging in brinkmanship over security deal
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday shrugged off U.S. talk of a total military withdrawal from Afghanistan if he didn’t sign a security agreement as brinkmanship and said he wouldn’t back down on his conditions for the deal….
Asian nations call for freedom of air, seas as U.S.-China maritime near-collision revealed
TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Japan and Southeast Asian countries called for freedom of the air and sea on Saturday, as China’s military assertiveness raises regional tensions and after U.S. and Chinese warships narrowly avoided collision in the dispute…
Thai protesters outline reform aims, military neutral for now
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Leaders of the protest movement trying to overthrow Thailand’s government outlined their aims at an armed forces seminar on Saturday but military leaders declined to take sides or say if a February election should take place.
Yemen says air strike targeted al Qaeda leaders
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen said senior al Qaeda militants were targeted in Thursday’s air strike in al-Bayda province, the first government statement on an incident which local officials said killed 15 people on their way to a wedding.
U.S., Chinese warships narrowly avoid collision in South China Sea
WASHINGTON/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A U.S. guided missile cruiser operating in international waters in the South China Sea was forced to take evasive action last week to avoid a collision with a Chinese warship maneuvering nearby, the U.S. Pacific Fleet sa…
Japan-ASEAN call for freedom of air and seas, with tensions high over China
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and Southeast Asian countries called on Saturday for freedom of the air and sea and urged that disputes be resolved peacefully, amid concerns about Chinese military assertiveness that has raised regional tensions.
Laos human rights chill a year after activist’s disappearance
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The last sign of Sombath Somphone, the most famous social activist in Laos, is a blurry video taken on a Vientiane street.
Mexican senators approve electoral, anti-corruption bills
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Senate gave final congressional approval on Friday to an electoral reform bill that allows for the re-election of lawmakers, and also pushed forward legislation that would create an anti-corruption watchdog.
U.S. sanctions move angers Iran, Russia sees threat to nuclear deal
VIENNA/MOSCOW (Reuters) – A breakthrough agreement to end the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program appeared to face its first major difficulty on Friday with Russia warning that expanding a U.S. sanctions blacklist could seriously complicate the deal’s…
