Japan PM revises when he knew about friend’s vet school application
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday revised when he first knew about a friend’s application to open a veterinary school at the center of a suspected cronyism scandal, saying he only became aware of the plan after it was appr…
Now showing at a disputed South China Sea island not very near you
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has opened its southernmost cinema on a disputed island in the South China Sea, state media said, part on an on-going effort to build up civilian infrastructure and assert Beijing’s sovereignty.
Australian currency brokerage says Shanghai staff freed, aiding police
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – An Australian currency brokerage said three staff members in Shanghai, who were being held against their will by a group of investors that intruded into its offices last week, had been released and were now helping with a local pol…
Vietnam police arrest dissident for attempt ‘to overthrow government’
HANOI (Reuters) – Police in Vietnam have arrested a prominent dissident they have accused of conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the government, in what appeared to be latest effort by the Communist-ruled country to crack down on critics.
China police warn against illegal gatherings after rare Beijing protest
BEIJING (Reuters) – Police in the Chinese capital have warned against illegal gatherings after they shut down part of a major road when demonstrators gathered to stage a rare protest in Beijing, complaining the government was unfairly targeting a chari…
UK’s Boris Johnson plays down Conservative rift, NZ near top of trade deal queue
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Tuesday appeared to deny there was any infighting within the governing Conservative party during a visit to New Zealand, where he said the country was near the top of the queue for a t…
Arab states add groups, people to terror lists in Qatar row
DUBAI (Reuters) – Four Arab countries have added 18 more groups and individuals that they say are linked to Qatar to their “terrorist” lists, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday, further escalating a row with Doha that has stoked regional t…
Israel removes Jerusalem metal detectors, Palestinians reject new measures
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel removed metal detectors from entrances to the Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on Tuesday in favor of CCTV cameras, hoping to calm days of bloodshed, but Palestinians said the modified security measures were sti…
Mattis bristles at Pentagon waste of $28 million on Afghan uniforms
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has criticized Pentagon officials for wasting as much as $28 million by making a questionable choice of forest camouflage-patterned uniforms for Afghan National Army soldiers.
Egypt’s Sisi vows to keep up Qatar blockade
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday his government would keep up a blockade of Qatar by four Arab states over charges it supports terrorism, in defiance of international efforts to end the crisis.
