Syrian opposition rejects Russia-sponsored congress, opposition member says
AMMAN (Reuters) – The Syrian opposition to President Bashar al-Assad will reject a Russian-sponsored congress of Syrian groups, which amounts to a meeting of “the regime with the regime”, a prominent opposition official told Reuters on Wednesday.
Hamas cedes Gaza border crossings to Palestinian Authority control
GAZA (Reuters) – The Islamist group Hamas began ceding control of the Gaza Strip’s border crossings with Israel and Egypt to U.S.-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday under an agreement brokered by Cairo to end a decade of internal s…
Hong Kong seeks law banning booing of China’s national anthem
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong will try to enact a law penalizing people who boo the Chinese national anthem “as soon as possible”, an official said on Wednesday, in a move that critics say undermines the Chinese-ruled city’s autonomy and freedoms.
Japan’s Abe re-elected prime minister after big election win
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Shinzo Abe was re-elected prime minister on Wednesday after his ruling bloc’s big election win last month and days ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump that is expected to be dominated by concerns over a volatile No…
Leading Turkish activist charged with trying to overthrow government: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Prominent Turkish rights activist and businessman Osman Kavala has been jailed pending trial on charges of violating the constitution and attempting to overthrow the government, state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday.
Myanmar says Bangladesh dragging feet over repatriating Rohingya
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar has blamed Bangladesh for delaying the start of a repatriation process for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, saying it feared Dhaka could be stalling until it receives multi-million dollars of international a…
Australia’s famed Uluru outback monolith to be closed to climbers
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s world-famous Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, will be closed to climbers from 2019, its management board said on Wednesday, ending a decades-long campaign by Aborigines to protect their sacred monolith in the Northern…
Russia’s Medvedev says the world shouldn’t be dominated by one currency
BEIJING (Reuters) – Russia and China were considering linking their national payment system, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday, as he called for a more balanced global finance structure.
South Korea’s Moon says cannot recognize North Korea as nuclear state
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – South Korea will never tolerate North Korea as a nuclear state, nor will Seoul have nuclear weapons, President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday, as China pledged to work on denuclearization after setting aside a dispute with Seou…
EU MPs threaten Cambodia aid and trade over crackdown
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – A European Parliament delegation warned on Tuesday that Cambodia could face EU action over aid and vital trade preferences if the human rights situation worsened further.
