Iran says new tensions between Revolutionary Guards and U.S. Navy
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that U.S. Navy ships came close to their vessels in the Gulf and shot flares.
Phone calls, dismissal threats: Venezuela pressures state workers to vote
CARACAS (Reuters) – State workers in Venezuela are receiving frequent phone calls, pressure from bosses and threats of dismissal to ensure they vote in favor of President Nicolas Maduro’s controversial new congress on Sunday.
Australia thwarts ‘Islamic-inspired’ plane attack plot
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Security has been tightened at Australian airports after police foiled “Islamic-inspired” plans for a bomb attack on an aircraft during counter-terrorism raids in which four men were arrested, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said…
China says one of its ‘most wanted’ fugitives now in custody
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Ren Biao, one of China’s most wanted fugitives accused of forgery and fraudulently obtaining loans, has returned to the country and handed himself over to the police, the graft watchdog said on Saturday.
Brother of ousted Pakistani PM seen as successor
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s ruling party plans to appoint the brother of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as his successor to fight the 2018 general elections, local media reported on Saturday, but will first have to appoint an interim prime min…
Vietnam asks Indonesia to investigate South China Sea shooting
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam has asked Indonesia to investigate and clarify reports that the Indonesian navy shot and wounded two Vietnamese fishermen in the South China Sea.
Senior Iraqi Kurd seeks to allay concerns on independence bid
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An Iraqi Kurdish leader sought on Friday to allay concerns an independence referendum would hurt the fight against Islamic State, after the U.S. State Department said the planned vote would distract from “more urgent priorities” …
Trump speaks with Jordan’s king, discusses regional tensions: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Friday to discuss regional events of the past two weeks and both leaders said they were “encouraged by the efforts taken to de-escalate tensions and by the…
For Trump, the honeymoon with Putin may be finally over
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin tossed President-elect Donald Trump a bouquet in December when he chose not to retaliate for the U.S. expulsion of Russian diplomats and seizure of Russian diplomatic compounds.
U.S. lawmakers expect more sanctions on Venezuela over vote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. lawmakers said on Friday they expected Washington would announce more sanctions on Venezuela if its government proceeds with an effort to elect a legislative body that critics call a plan to create a dictatorship….
