By Jatindra Dash BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) – A severe cyclonic storm is set to pummel the coasts of India and Bangladesh on Thursday, spurring authorities to cancel train services, warn fishermen to stay home and begin evacuating thousands of people from vulnerable sites. Cyclone Dana, now over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to strengthen, …
Severe cyclonic storm set to barrel into eastern India, Bangladesh Read More »
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday approved the selection of the next chief justice, who was chosen through a new process that the government’s opponents say is designed to undermine judicial independence. Justice Yahya Afridi, the third most senior judge after the outgoing chief justice, was picked by a parliamentary panel …
Pakistan selects top judge under new process criticised by main opposition party Read More »
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -A court in Pakistan granted bail to the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case pertaining to the illegal sale of state gifts, his party said on Wednesday – a relief for the embattled politician who could see his spouse released from prison for the first time in months. Both …
Wife of Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan granted bail in state gifts case, his party says Read More »
By Kaori Kaneko, Tim Kelly and Irene Wang ODAWARA, Japan (Reuters) – Karen Makishima is the only female running for Japan’s ruling party in her 20-seat prefecture for the Oct. 27 general election, reflecting the tough battle women face in breaking into the country’s male dominated politics. Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has promised to …
A man’s world: Japan makes tepid push on gender gap in politics as election nears Read More »
JAKARTA (Reuters) – The United Nations’ refugee agency called on Indonesia to let in about 150 Rohingya refugees stranded off Aceh province for almost a week, as local media reported police had arrested three people on charges of human trafficking.Two people on the boat had died and another 11, including a pregnant woman, had been …
UNHCR calls for Indonesia to let in Rohingya stranded at sea off Aceh Read More »
By Ainnie Arif NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, submitted her nomination on Wednesday to contest an election to parliament, the latest candidate from a family that has dominated politics and given the country three prime ministers. Vadra, 52, filed her papers for the Wayanad seat in the …
Priyanka becomes latest Gandhi to contest election to Indian parliament Read More »
By Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung TAIPEI (Reuters) -A real Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday after drills by China last week practiced such a scenario. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has …
Chinese blockade would be act of war, Taiwan says Read More »
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine president’s office called on Wednesday for an investigation to leave no stone unturned in bringing to justice the killers of a broadcast journalist in a southern province. Despite a media environment that ranks as one of the most liberal in Asia, the Philippines remains one of the world’s most dangerous …
Philippines condemns ‘barbaric’ killing of broadcast journalist Read More »
(Reuters) – The European Union’s next foreign policy chief has told lawmakers that strengthening security must be a priority, warning that Europe must be prepared as Russia and “partly China” exploit the continent’s open societies. “European security is deeply personal to me as a native of a country that has long told others that Russia’s …
Incoming EU foreign policy chief Kallas warns against Russia and China Read More »
By Mandy Leong KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia charged 22 people linked to an Islamic conglomerate, including its chief executive, on Wednesday for organised crime, according to court documents and the company’s lawyer. Authorities last month launched a wide-ranging probe into Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings, for various crimes including suspected money laundering, …
Malaysia charges 22 people linked to Islamic firm GISB with organised crime Read More »
