Bush tucker on the menu with Australian border patrol unit
THE ENGLISH COMPANY’S ISLANDS, Australia (Reuters) – A group of soldiers start to unload from two inflatable boats after a long, bumpy night-time journey off Australia’s northern coast, torches scanning the shoreline for the telltale red eye reflection…
Cambodian PM says ready to talk to opposition after disputed polls
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia’s long-serving leader, Hun Sen, said on Wednesday his party was ready to talk to the opposition after both sides claimed victory in Sunday’s general election, talking of the need for compromise but calling himself “prime…
Thai king to leave hospital after four years
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s 85-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, is to leave the Bangkok hospital where he has been for almost four years to live at his palace by the sea, a government official said on Wednesday…
Rights group condemns lashing, jailing of Saudi blogger on Islam
DUBAI (Reuters) – An international rights group condemned the sentencing of a Saudi Arabian website founder to be whipped 600 times and jailed for seven years for violating Islamic values, saying it undermined the kingdom’s stated support for religious…
Gun crime, custodial deaths pile pressure on Malaysian government
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – High-profile shootings and a surge of deaths of suspects in custody are stoking public anger in Malaysia, piling pressure on the government to tackle crime and clamp down on police corruption and brutality.
Philippines likely to stay in Golan Heights for another six months
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will likely keep its peacekeeping forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights for six more months after securing U.N. assurances for the safety of its 342 soldiers in the ceasefire zone, Manila’s foreign minister sai…
Afghan civilian deaths increase; more women, child victims: U.N.
KABUL (Reuters) – Violence against civilians has risen by almost a quarter in Afghanistan as international forces hand security to Afghans, the United Nations said in a report on Wednesday, with insurgents striking in areas where troops have already le…
Panama uncovers fighter jet engines from seized North Korea ship
COLON, Panama (Reuters) – Panamanian investigators unloading the cargo of a seized North Korean ship carrying arms from Cuba under sacks of brown sugar on Tuesday found 12 engines for MiG-21 fighter jets and five military vehicles that officials said r…
Egypt allows EU envoy to see deposed president
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt allowed Europe’s top diplomat to meet deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Monday, flying her after dark to Mursi’s secret detention facility but ruling out any role for him in ending the turmoil convulsing the country.
Obama asks Republican Senators McCain, Graham to visit Egypt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has asked two senior Republican senators to travel to Egypt to meet with its military leaders and the opposition, as Cairo’s allies struggle with how to address the turmoil convulsing the country.
