Duterte targets Philippine children in bid to widen drug war
MANILA (Reuters) – Before Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs had even begun, allies of the Philippines president were quietly preparing for a wider offensive. On June 30, as Duterte was sworn in, they introduced a bill into the Philippine Congress t…
Tunisia PM, in Germany, dismisses criticism over asylum deportations
BERLIN (Reuters) – Tunisia’s prime minister, in Germany for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, rejected criticism on Tuesday that his country had been slow to take back failed asylum seekers from Europe, including Berlin Christmas market attacker Ani…
Parties call on Thai junta for swift return to democracy
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai political parties called on the ruling junta for a swift return to democracy on Tuesday during military-led reconciliation talks aimed at mending political divisions ahead of elections next year.
Head of U.N. nuclear watchdog says Iran continuing commitment to deal
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran is implementing the deal on its nuclear program agreed with world powers, the head of the U.N. atomic energy watchdog said on Tuesday, amid concerns the United States will try to alter the terms.
Iran urges Gulf states to ‘seize the opportunity’ of Rouhani visit
DUBAI (Reuters) – A top Iranian official called on the Gulf Arab states on Tuesday to seize the opportunity of a visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Oman and Kuwait to improve ties, warning that a chance like this would “pass like a cloud”.
Pressure mounts on France’s Fillon as party lawmakers rebel
PARIS (Reuters) – French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon faced a fresh party rebellion on Tuesday after some 40 lawmakers demanded a “crisis” meeting to discuss his fate amid fears a fake work scandal could derail their bid to win t…
South Korean prosecution again seeks arrest of Samsung chief
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s special prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday it would again seek a warrant to arrest Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee, a suspect in a graft investigation that may topple President Park Geun-hye.
UK unlikely to trigger Article 50 at March 9 EU summit: Brexit minister
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Brexit minister David Davis said on Tuesday the government was on course to meet its end-March deadline to launch the formal divorce procedure from the European Union but did not see Britain doing so at an EU summit next month.
China’s Xi says officials should prevent abuse of power
BEIJING (Reuters) – Top Chinese officials need to “build a fence” to ensure neither they nor those around them abuse power, and must practice greater self-discipline, state media cited President Xi Jinping as saying as he drives home his anti-corruptio…
Thailand’s new king shows his strength
BANGKOK (Reuters) – From requiring constitutional changes to pushing for unity in the divided country and reshaping the royal household, Thailand’s new king is putting an assertive stamp on his rule.
