Vatican treasurer faces Australian court for hearing on sex offence charges
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Lawyers for Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell asked an Australian court on Monday to allow a support person to sit with him through a four-week pre-trial hearing into charges of historical sexual offences because of his age a…
Trump-Netanyahu meeting is chance to project common front vs. Iran
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold talks on Monday that offer a chance to project a common front against Iran but are expected to do little to advance seemingly stalled Israel…
South Korean team heads to North in bid to bring U.S., North to nuclear talks
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean delegation left for North Korea on Monday, a presidential official said, aiming to bring the North and the United States together for talks in a bid to rein in the North’s nuclear and missile programs.
U.S. aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam on landmark visit
DANANG, Vietnam (Reuters) – A U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in Vietnam on Monday for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War, dramatically underscoring the growing strategic ties between the former foes at a time when China’s regional influence…
Italy faces political gridlock as 5-Star surges in election
ROME (Reuters) – Italy faces a prolonged period of political instability after voters delivered a hung parliament in Sunday’s election, spurning traditional parties and flocking to anti-establishment and far-right groups in record numbers.
China boosts defense spending amid military modernization
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Monday unveiled its largest rise in defense spending in three years, setting a target of 8.1 percent growth over 2017, fuelling an ambitious military modernization program amid rising concerns over its security.
Japan’s navy to buy tanker to fuel ships patrolling East China Sea: sources
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s navy wants to buy its first oil tanker to carry fuel to Okinawa as it cranks up operations in the East China Sea to counter a growing Chinese naval presence, two sources familiar with plan said.
Poll shows Australian leader’s popularity slides over sex scandal
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s personal popularity has slumped to a level seen only once before, a widely watched poll showed on Monday, hit by criticism for his handling of an affair between his former deputy and a sta…
Italy vote points to stalemate with 5-Star in ascendancy
ROME (Reuters) – Italian voters delivered a hung parliament on Sunday, flocking to anti-establishment and far-right parties in record numbers and casting the euro zone’s third-largest economy into political gridlock, initial results showed.
South Korea delegation to depart for Pyongyang to bring U.S., North to talks
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean delegation led by senior security officials will leave for North Korea on Monday, a presidential official said, aiming to bring together Pyongyang and Washington for talks on the North’s nuclear programme.
