Philippine leader approves autonomy law for troubled Muslim region
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday approved a long-awaited law to allow minority Muslims in the south to start moving toward self-rule by 2022, a bid to tackle extremism and defuse a half-century of separatist conflict.
Laos scrambles for food, medicines, coffins three days after dam burst
Troops searched for survivors in the remote southern tip of Laos on Thursday, three days after the collapse of a hydropower dam sent a torrent of water charging across paddy fields and through villages, as rescuers rushed aid to thousands of homeless.
China’s Xi urges global institutions to fight trade protectionism
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a concerted effort by global institutions such as the United Nations, the G7 and the World Trade Organization to fight unilateralism and protectionism in a speech on Thursday at a BRICS summit in South Africa.
Iran special forces chief tells Trump Tehran will respond to any hostile action
An Iranian military commander said on Thursday that Donald Trump should address any threats against Tehran directly to him, and mocked the U.S. president as using the language of “night clubs and gambling halls”.
UAE ready to take on greater security burden in Middle East: minister
The United Arab Emirates is ready to deploy more troops across the Middle East to counter its foes as it believes it can no longer rely on Western allies like the United States and Britain, UAE minister Anwar Gargash said on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia halts oil exports in Red Sea lane after Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was suspending oil shipments through the Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandeb strait, one of the world’s most important tanker routes, after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two ships in the waterway.
Lone suspect wounded in blast near U.S. embassy in China
A bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy in Beijing on Thursday, wounding the lone assailant, the embassy said in a statement, but police described the weapon merely as a “firework device”.
Venezuela’s last anti-Maduro paper clings on as media intimidation grows
Three hours before Venezuela’s El Nacional newspaper goes to print, a bare-bones staff of 20 journalists toils in its vast newsroom, surrounded by empty desks.
Ethiopian Nile dam manager found dead in his car
The project manager of a $4 billion Ethiopian dam being built on the river Nile has been found dead, a Reuters photographer said on Thursday.
Britain scrambles Romania-based jets to intercept Russian plane
Britain’s Royal Air Force said on Thursday Typhoons based in Romania were scrambled in response to Russian aircraft operating near NATO airspace over the Black Sea.
