U.S. raises military assistance to the Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – Washington will raise its military assistance to the Philippines by about two-thirds, Manila’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, helping its oldest security ally in Asia defend vast maritime borders against what it sees as Chinese …
Serbia avoids early election with deal to oust finance minister
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia averted an early election but risked unnerving foreign investors as the largest party in the coalition government agreed on Wednesday to the sacking of the finance minister.
Zawahri vows al Qaeda to free Guantanamo inmates
DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri slammed U.S. treatment of hunger striking inmates at Guantanamo Bay and said the group would spare no effort to free them, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.
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…
