Death toll doubles in southwest Syria offensive: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Air strikes on Wednesday and Thursday have doubled the death toll in the Syrian army’s 10-day offensive against insurgents in the southwest, rebels and a monitor said.
Prosecutors say women must have been trained to kill North Korean in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Two women accused of murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader must have been trained to carry out “an assassination” using deadly VX nerve agent, Malaysian prosecutors said, wrapping up their case on Thursda…
Before summit, Merkel calls migration ‘make or break’ for Europe
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Under severe pressure from conservative allies at home, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on European leaders on Thursday to forge a common approach to migration, calling it a “make or break” issue for Europe.
Exclusive: China shuns U.S. request for talks on airline website dispute over Taiwan
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China has rejected U.S. requests for talks over how U.S. airlines and their websites refer to Chinese-claimed Taiwan, according to sources, including a U.S. official, adding to tensions in a relationship already frayed by…
Several hundred Syrian refugees in Lebanon begin returning to Syria
ARSAL, Lebanon (Reuters) – Nearly 400 refugees started leaving the Lebanese border town of Arsal to cross into Syria on Thursday, a rare case of a return which Lebanon’s government wants to encourage.
Queen Elizabeth, 92, feeling ‘under the weather’ and will miss St Paul’s service
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, 92, is feeling unwell and will not attend a special service on Thursday at St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace said.
U.S. says India talks ‘a priority’ after postponing twice
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday that a top-level strategic dialogue with India will take place as soon as possible, after Washington put off the meeting for a second time in months.
China praises Mattis visit, says defense minister to visit U.S.
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Thursday praised the tone of this week’s visit to Beijing by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, saying it had achieve positive results and that Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe would go to Washington this year.
Exclusive: China rejects U.S. request for talks on airline website dispute
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China has rejected U.S. requests for talks over how U.S. airlines and their websites refer to Chinese-claimed Taiwan, according to sources, including a U.S. official, adding to tensions in a bilateral relationship already…
Mattis says U.S. troop commitment to South Korea is ‘ironclad’
SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday assured South Korea of an “ironclad” commitment to its security, including keeping U.S. troop levels unaltered, even as diplomats seek an agreement with North Korea on denuclearization.
