Japan state secrets bill on track to become law despite protests
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese state secrets bill toughening penalties for leaks came a step closer to becoming law on Thursday when ruling parties forced it through a parliamentary panel amid protests it will muzzle the media and help cover up official …
Car bomb explodes in Somalia’s Puntland region: witnesses
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded in the northern Somali city of Bosasso on Thursday, witnesses said.
Indonesia, Australia agree “hotline” to resolve diplomatic spat
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia and Australia announced on Thursday that they would set up a hotline as part of efforts to repair relations following media reports last month that Canberra had spied on top Indonesian officials.
Sweden key partner for U.S. spying on Russia: TV
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden has been a key partner for the United States in spying on Russia and its leadership, Swedish television said on Thursday, citing leaked documents from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
China leaders to set policy, reform priorities for 2014
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s leaders are expected to gather at a closed-door meeting next week to set policy and reform priorities for 2014, sources with government think tanks said, following a party meeting that laid out a bold reform agenda for the n…
China’s top farm official reins in land reform expectations
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s new rural reforms will stop short of giving commercial firms free rein to buy land and will focus instead on creating bigger family farms, the country’s top rural official said in remarks published on Thursday.
Schools close in smog-enshrouded eastern China
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Hazardous air pollution forced schools to shut or suspend outdoor activities in at least two cities in eastern China, where residents complained of the yellow skies and foul smells that are symptomatic of the country’s crippling sm…
Thaksin’s homecoming hopes dashed as Thai crisis reignites
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s political future is cloudier than ever, but one thing is for certain – self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra won’t be coming home soon.
Anarchy at door, West starts to rebuild Libyan army
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – On a dusty parade ground outside Tripoli, young recruits march and bark out slogans for the new Libyan army that Western powers hope can turn the tide on militias threatening to engulf the North African country in anarchy.
Ten killed in Nicaraguan gunfight near Honduran border
MANAGUA (Reuters) – Six suspected robbers and four police officers were killed in a shootout in a remote rural part of northwestern Nicaragua close to the border with Honduras, police said on Wednesday.
