North Korea, South Korea begin removing landmines along fortified border
SEOUL – Troops from North and South Korea have begun removing some landmines along their heavily fortified border, the South’s defence ministry said, as part of a pact to reduce…
Japanese carrier drills with British warship heading to contested South China Sea
ABOARD THE KAGA, Indian Ocean – Japan’s biggest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, has joined naval drills with Britain’s HMS Argyll in the Indian Ocean as the frigate headed toward…
Taiwan says will closely watch “suppression” by China after Vatican accord
TAIPEI – Taiwan says its relationship with the Vatican is stable, although it will closely watch what it described as “suppression” by China following a landmark deal between Beijing and…
South Sudan surgeon wins UN prize for treating war-hit refugees
NAIROBI – A South Sudanese surgeon, who has spent two decades helping the sick and injured in the war-torn east African nation, has been announced the winner of a UN…
Cambodia’s Festival of the Dead: rice offerings and Buddhist chants
PHNOM PENH – Cambodians have thrown rice on the ground to mark the ‘Festival of the Dead’ or Pchum Ben and feed the spirits of the dead. Cambodians visit pagodas…
Venezuela’s Maduro accuses Chile, Colombia, Mexico of helping drone attack
CARACAS – Venezuela’s socialist president Nicolas Maduro has accused the right-wing governments of Chile, Colombia and Mexico of helping “terrorists” who tried to kill him during a drone attack in…
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threaten to avenge military parade attack
DUBAI – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have vowed to exact “deadly and unforgettable” vengeance for a shooting attack on a military parade that killed 25 people, including 12 of their comrades,…
Survivor pulled from capsized Tanzanian ferry as death toll reaches 218
UKARA – Divers have rescued a man from the wreck of an overcrowded Tanzanian ferry, two days after it capsized on Lake Victoria killing at least 218 people. Bodies continued…
Swiss canton becomes second to ban burqas in public
ZURICH – Voters in St. Gallen have approved by a two-thirds majority a ban on facial coverings such as the burqa, becoming the second Swiss canton to do so. Full-face…
Malaysian police say former PM Najib to face 21 more money laundering charges
KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 21 money laundering charges will be laid against former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak over a $US681 million (some $A936 million) dollar transfer into his…
