China fires back at U.S. for criticism on fishing curbs
BEIJING (Reuters) – China defended on Friday its new fishing restrictions in disputed waters in the South China Sea against criticism from the United States, saying the rules were in accordance with international law.
Coup-prone Thailand looks to army chief to break deadlock
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Standing inside one of Bangkok’s many military bases is a giant poster of Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha in full dress uniform, along with a list of attributes. “Intelligent,” reads the poster. “Knowledgeable. Modern. Visionary.”…
Kenya says killed Shabaab commanders in air strikes
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s military has killed more than 30 al Shabaab militants, including commanders, a spokesman said, in its first major barrage of air strikes in Somalia since the retaliation for the Islamists’ attack on a Nairobi shopping mall.
Israel announces plans for building 1,400 settlement homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Friday published tenders for 1,400 new homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the region to push peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Assad’s forces kill dozens of rebels in Homs city
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed dozens of rebel fighters who tried to break an army siege of the central city of Homs, state media and a monitoring group said.
China hails ‘new progress’ in crackdown on corruption
BEIJING (Reuters) – China hailed its crackdown on corruption on Friday, saying “new progress and achievements” had led to a 13.3 percent increase in the number of people punished last year.
Hollande considers legal action over actress liaison report
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande has complained of breach of privacy and is considering legal action after French magazine Closer alleged he was having an affair with an actress, a source in his office said on Friday.
Karzai not seen meeting U.S. deadline on security deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. efforts to persuade Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a long-term security agreement according to Washington’s timetable will likely fail, the lead American negotiator has warned the Obama administration, the Washington …
India’s main opposition party debates scrapping income tax as poll nears
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s main opposition party is considering a measure to scrap, or reduce, income tax as a plank in an election manifesto designed to win over crucial middle-class and urban voters before a national election due by May.
U.S. forces accidentally kill Afghan boy, strain ties further
KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. forces in Afghanistan have accidentally shot dead a four year old boy, Afghan officials said on Friday, the latest violence to strain ties between the uneasy allies.
