Exiled cleric points to Iran’s widening influence in Bahrain
MANAMA/DUBAI (Reuters) – At a wake in Iran’s holy city of Qom in February, a small group of Bahraini emigres and clerics mourned a young militant killed in a gun battle with Bahrain’s security forces.
Trump promised Turkey’s Erdogan close cooperation on Syria, Iraq, PKK: Turkish sources
ANKARA (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on his referendum campaign in a phone call on Monday and vowed close cooperation on Syria, Iraq and the fight against Kurdish militants, Turkish presidential …
Monitor says suspected U.S. coalition air strikes kill 23 in east Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A war monitor said air strikes, thought to be by planes from a U.S.-led military coalition, killed at least 23 people in two parts of the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor on Monday.
China’s man on North Korea crisis cools heels in Beijing
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – The travels and travails of China’s veteran point man on North Korea underscore China’s growing frustration in its efforts to broker a negotiated solution to rising tensions between North Korea and the United States.
China to gather friends for biggest summit of year on New Silk Road
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will gather its friends and allies together for its biggest diplomatic event of the year in May, a summit on its New Silk Road plan, with most Asian leaders due to attend but only one from a G7 nation, the Italian prime minist…
Executive salaries at China’s largest state firms linked to ‘party building’ efforts
BEIJING (Reuters) – Salaries of executives at China’s largest state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will be directly linked to their performance on tests by the ruling Communist Party to assess their “party building” efforts, state media said on Tuesday.
Australia toughens foreign worker visas, says Australian jobs for Australians
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will abolish a temporary work visa popular with foreigners and replace it with a new program requiring better English-language and job skills, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday.
U.S. Marines arrive in Darwin for Australia, China exercises
DARWIN (Reuters) – U.S. Marines began arriving in Australia’s tropical north on Tuesday for a six-month deployment during which they will conduct exercises with Australian and visiting Chinese forces.
Pence reassures Japan of U.S. resolve on North Korea, to work with China
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reassured Japan of American commitment to reining in North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions on Tuesday, after warning that U.S. strikes in Syria and Afghanistan showed the strength of its resolve.
Brazil’s president says ministers under investigation may resign
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Michel Temer said on Monday some of his cabinet ministers are likely to resign after being placed under investigation in a massive corruption probe, as he seeks to draw a line under a scandal threatening his swe…
