Pope meets Myanmar’s military chief in shadow of Rohingya crisis
YANGON (Reuters) – Pope Francis held talks on Monday with Myanmar’s military chief at the start of a delicate visit to a majority-Buddhist country that the United States has accused of “ethnic cleansing” against its Muslim Rohingya people.
Ousted Hong Kong lawmakers ordered to pay hefty expense bills
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Four Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers who were ousted from the legislature this year condemned on Monday as “political persecution” a demand that they pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses.
Indonesia orders immediate evacuation as highest alert issued for Bali volcano
DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately, warning that the first major eruption in …
Chechen leader, amid reshuffles, says ready to die for Putin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia’s Chechnya, said he was ready to die for Vladimir Putin and stand down, if ordered, ahead of a federal presidential election next year which has triggered personnel reshuffles that have put some politic…
Australian police cut chains from immigration protesters at PM’s residence
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police on Monday used metal cutters to remove five protesters who had chained themselves to the gate of the prime minister’s official residence over the treatment of asylum seekers detained in Papua New Guinea.
Britain’s Prince Harry to marry U.S. actress Meghan Markle
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle announced on Monday they were engaged and would get married in the spring of next year.
Barely a quarter of Catalans want to pursue split from Spain: poll
MADRID (Reuters) – Barely a quarter of Catalans want to continue with a plan to claim independence from Spain in the wake of Dec. 21 regional elections, according to a poll published in El Pais newspaper on Monday.
Kremlin says head of Chechnya to remain despite talk of quitting
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Monday that Ramzan Kadyrov, the outspoken leader of Russia’s republic of Chechnya, would remain in his post despite comments he made about the possibility of standing down.
German government talks likely a month away, Merkel ally says
BERLIN (Reuters) – Talks on forming a new German “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats (SPD) may not begin until next year, a top official in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative camp said, potentially prolonging the uncertainty in Europe’s la…
In upset, opposition takes lead over U.S. ally in Honduras election
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – A left-right coalition led by a flamboyant TV host took a surprise lead in the Honduran presidential election, initial results showed on Monday, upsetting forecasts that the crime-fighting, U.S.-allied incumbent would comfortabl…
