Exclusive: South Africa’s Zuma considers stepping down early in deal to oust Gordhan
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Jacob Zuma is considering offering to step down next year, at least 12 months before his term as South African president ends, under a deal with opponents in his ruling party that would see Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan leav…
Syrian rebels seize swathes of south as Islamic State retreats
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian rebels have seized large areas from Islamic State in southern Syria in the last two weeks as the jihadist group prepares to defend its Raqqa stronghold in the north from a U.S.-backed assault, rebel commanders say.
China says ‘no such thing’ as man-made islands in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – There was “no such thing” as man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea, China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, and reiterated that any building work was mainly for civilian purposes.
Japan considers easing Chinese visa rules to extend tourism boom
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is considering relaxing restrictions on visas for tourists from China, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday, hoping to extend a tourism boom and lend support to consumer spending.
China says weapons won’t stop unification with Taiwan
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday it was futile for Taiwan to think it could use arms to prevent unification, as the self-ruled democratic island looks to fresh arms sales by the United States amid what it sees as a growing …
South Africa’s Zuma meets top ANC officials amid speculation Gordhan to be sacked
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma called a meeting of the ruling African National Congress’ (ANC) top six officials late on Thursday, media reported, after ANC ally the South African Communist Party said he planned to sack Fi…
Tillerson tells frustrated Turks: U.S. faces tough choices in Syria
ANKARA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson acknowledged on Thursday that Washington faced difficult choices in the fight against Islamic State in Syria but sought to downplay differences with NATO ally Turkey over support for Kurdish mili…
Hungary insists on bill that could force out Soros school
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary said it will not withdraw new legislation to regulate foreign universities that a Budapest college founded by American financier and philanthropist George Soros says could force it out of the country.
Exclusive: Malaysia mistook slain Kim Jong Nam for South Korean
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian authorities wrongly identified the slain half-brother of North Korea’s leader as a South Korean national and first alerted Seoul’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur soon after his death, sources familiar with the incident told …
Majority of French want Socialist Hamon to bow out of election race: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – More than one in two French voters believe struggling Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon should drop out of the presidential race in favor of a rival left-winger who has overtaken him in surveys of voting intentions, a poll showed on Th…
