China says no side should pre-judge Syria chemical probe
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Friday that no side should rush to pre-judge the results of any probe by U.N. chemical weapons experts in Syria, after Syria’s opposition accused government forces of using such weapons in an attack on civilians.
Potholes on airport runway spell trouble for Nepal tourism
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepal has asked foreign airlines not to land heavily-loaded wide-body aircraft at the Himalayan nation’s international airport, aviation authorities said on Friday, after potholes were found on the runway before the annual influx …
Malaysia court overturns convictions in grisly, high-profile model’s murder
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian court on Friday overturned the conviction of two policemen found guilty of shooting and blowing up a Mongolian model linked to a former associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Syrian activists say trying to get samples from chemical strike to U.N.
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian activists say they have prepared body tissue samples from victims of an alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus and are trying to get them to a team of United Nations inspectors staying in a hotel a few miles away.
Khmer Rouge tribunal staff renew walkout threat over pay
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian staff at a Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal renewed threats to go on strike amid a deepening funding crisis at a court already bogged down by resignations and the ill health of its elderly defendants.
Philippines preempts protest, says to plug leaks in ‘pork barrel’ funds
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will plug leaks in a controversial fund set aside for legislators’ pet projects, the latest in President Benigno Aquino’s efforts to clean up one of Southeast Asia’s most corrupt nations.
American photographer escapes Syrian Islamist torturers: paper
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An American photographer has escaped from Syrian Islamists who seized him in December, tortured him and were still holding an American cellmate near Aleppo, the freelancer told the New York Times.
Pakistan’s ruling party consolidates grip on power in new votes
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party has consolidated its hold on power, results from by-elections released on Friday showed, cementing its ability to push through unpopular reforms aimed at kick-starting the stagnating e…
Palestinian group says no casualties in Israeli strike:TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Palestinian militant group in Lebanon said one of its bases south of Beirut was hit by an Israeli rocket on Friday, but said it caused no injuries or significant damage, Lebanon’s Al-Manar Television reported.
China makes big show of Bo trial, but it’s still just theatre
BEIJING (Reuters) – With detailed online transcripts carried by China’s version of Twitter, Beijing is making an unprecedented effort to show its people that the trial of ousted politician Bo Xilai is fair and above board, but the court case is little …
