Seoul considers unilateral sanctions against North Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea is considering levying its own sanctions on North Korea as the isolated state ramps up tension with its missile and nuclear provocations, the South’s vice foreign minister said on Wednesday, but no decision had been made y…
U.S. wants evidence over detained staff to end Turkey visa dispute
ANKARA (Reuters) – A U.S. delegation has asked Turkey for information and evidence regarding consular staff whose detention has led to a diplomatic rift and suspension of visa services, private HaberTurk television channel reported on Wednesday.
From Damascus, Iran vows to confront Israel
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s military chief discussed ways to deepen cooperation with the Syrian military during a visit to Damascus on Wednesday, pledging to fight Israel and Sunni insurgents, Syrian state media said.
Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber rams police truck, kills seven
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – A Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber rammed a car into a police truck in the southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, police said.
Qatar emir says open to dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis
BOGOR, Indonesia (Reuters) – Qatar is “open to dialogue” in resolving a dispute that has seen the Gulf state isolated from its Arab neighbors, its emir said during a visit to Indonesia on Wednesday.
Spanish PM asks Catalan leader to ‘act sensibly’
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appealed to Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to “act sensibly” on Wednesday, as a government deadline approached for the northeastern region to renounce a bid for independence.
China’s Xi lays out vision for ‘new era’ led by ‘still stronger’ Communist Party
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday laid out a confident vision for a more prosperous nation and its role in the world, stressing the importance of wiping out corruption and curbing industrial overcapacity, income inequality a…
Philippines arrests militant widow for trying to recruit fighters
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine law enforcement agents have arrested a woman who tried to spread radical ideas and recruit hundreds of foreigners to reinforce pro-Islamic State rebels occupying a southern city, the justice minister said on Wednesday.
Son of Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin charged with money-laundering
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The only son of fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been formally charged with money-laundering, the Department of Special Investigations told Reuters on Wednesday.
Defiant Kurds shrug off risk of trade war after independence vote
ZAKHO, Iraq (Reuters) – More than three weeks after Iraq’s Kurds voted for independence, it’s business as usual at the bustling Ibrahim Khalil border crossing with Turkey.
