Lavrov invites Kim to Russia as Moscow makes Pyongyang play
MOSCOW/SEOUL (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Thursday and invited him to visit, moving to raise Moscow’s profile in international efforts to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Exclusive: China’s free trade talks with Sri Lanka hit major hurdles
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo’s demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka’s top negotiator said.
Spanish PM’s future in balance as no-confidence debate hots up
MADRID (Reuters) – The future of Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hung in the balance on Thursday, with Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez a whisker away from forcing him out of office as a debate due to conclude with a no-confidence vote on Friday hot…
Ahead of elections, a risky battle for Ukraine’s soul
PTYCHA, Ukraine (Reuters) – One recent Sunday morning in the western Ukrainian village of Ptycha, a battle for control of the church between rival Orthodox factions forced parishioners to worship in unusual places.
China says carrier group has reached ‘initial’ combat readiness
BEIJING (Reuters) – The carrier group led by China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has reached “initial” combat readiness, the defense ministry said on Thursday, in another significant step in the country’s ambitious military modernization prog…
Chinese border forces plan to visit old foe India amid reset in ties
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is discussing with India a visit by Chinese border forces to build trust on their disputed frontier, China’s defense ministry said on Thursday, as the neighbors seek to reset ties following a summit between their leaders.
Assad raises prospect of U.S. clash in Syria, hits back at Trump
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United States should learn the lesson of Iraq and leave Syria, President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s description of him as an animal by saying “what you say is what you are”.
Italy awaits decision on last-ditch deal to avoid snap elections
ROME (Reuters) – Italy on Thursday was awaiting a decision from right-wing leader Matteo Salvini on whether to join a last-ditch attempt to form a government and avoid snap elections that would be focused on membership of the euro zone.
China rejects ‘ridiculous’ U.S. accusation of South China Sea militarization
BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. assertions that China is militarizing the South China Sea are “ridiculous”, China said on Thursday, after U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Washington would confront China’s actions in the disputed waterways.
Fighting escalates in Libya’s Derna, U.N. says
GENEVA (Reuters) – Fighting has escalated in the Libyan city of Derna, with air raids, shelling of residential areas and heavy ground clashes, the United Nations humanitarian office said on Thursday.
