Russian and French foreign ministers discussed situation in Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed the situation in Syria and other issues during a phone conversation on Dec. 14, the Russian ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Australian PM future safeguarded in crucial Sydney by-election
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s conservative coalition government regained its razor-thin parliamentary majority on Saturday after inner Sydney voters re-elected a former professional tennis player in a special poll triggered by a constitutional crisis….
Myanmar journalists’ group to don black T-shirts over arrest of Reuters’ reporters
YANGON (Reuters) – A group of Myanmar journalists said they would begin wearing black T-shirts on Saturday in protest at the detention of two Reuters reporters accused of violating the country’s Official Secrets Act, as pressure builds on Myanmar to re…
U.S. says did everything possible to help Italy cyber investigation
ROME (Reuters) – The United States has denied suggestions it undermined an investigation into a massive data breach at the Italian cybersecurity firm Hacking Team, saying it did everything it could to help in the case.
Thai tour guide arrested for inappropriate behavior at Buddhist temple
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai authorities have arrested a local tour guide for indecent behavior at a temple after she posted a photograph online that showed her standing on a pagoda, police said on Saturday.
Strong quake hits Indonesia’s Java, kills three
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A powerful magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the island of Java in Indonesia just before midnight on Friday, with authorities reporting three deaths and damage to hundreds of buildings.
Kurz’s Austrian conservatives bring far right into government
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s conservative leader Sebastian Kurz has brought the far right Freedom Party (FPO) into government, striking a coalition deal he aims to cement with his own party and Austria’s president on Saturday.
Peru’s Congress prepares to oust President Kuczynski
LIMA (Reuters) – President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s chances of surviving the political crisis gripping Peru faded on Friday after Congress passed a motion to start “presidential vacancy” procedures with enough votes to unseat him within a week.
South Africa to increase spending on higher education: Zuma
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa will raise subsidies to universities to 1 percent of gross domestic product over the next five years from nearly 0.7 percent at present as recommended by a commission on higher education funding, President Jacob Zu…
Detained asylum-seekers win right to sue PNG government for compensation
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A Papua New Guinea court has given hundreds of asylum-seekers who were held for years in a controversial Australian detention center the right to sue the PNG government for compensation, Australian media reported on Saturday.
