Dutch PM Rutte: ‘a bit more optimistic’ on Ukraine deal at EU summit
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday he was “a bit more optimistic” that EU leaders would back additional caveats to the bloc’s landmark agreement with Ukraine, key to helping the former Soviet state move out of Russia’…
Russia says loss of Iran nuclear deal would be unforgivable: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – It would be unforgivable if a deal over Iran’s nuclear program was lost, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Philippine Duterte’s admission he killed criminals an impeachable offense: senators
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte risks impeachment after he admitted “personally” killing criminals when he was the mayor of Davao City, said two Philippine senators.
France’s Valls would give more power to parliament if elected president
PARIS (Reuters) – Would-be Socialist French president Manuel Valls on Thursday proposed to hand more power to parliament by limiting a government’s rights to force through legislation without a parliamentary vote.
China installs weapons systems on artificial islands: U.S. think tank
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported, citing new satellite imagery.
Chinese ambassador to U.S.: Sovereignty not a ‘bargaining chip’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a veiled warning to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, China’s ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday that Beijing would never bargain with Washington over issues involving its national sovereignty or territorial in…
Targeting U.S. automaker signals possible China retaliation over Trump talk
WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s plan to punish a U.S. automaker accused of price-fixing is a sign of how Beijing could retaliate if President-elect Donald Trump upends decades of relations between the two nations.
Trump tells Vietnam prime minister he hopes ties will grow stronger
HANOI (Reuters) – In a telephone call, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told Vietnam’s prime minister he wanted to further strengthen fast-warming ties between the two countries, the government of the Southeast Asian nation said on Thursday.
Dozens of Afghans deported from Germany arrive in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – A group of 38 Afghans arrived in Kabul from Germany on Thursday, the first to be deported under an agreement reached between the two countries this year, following the rejection of their applications for asylum.
China’s air force says recent long-range drills routine
BEIJING (Reuters) – Long-range air force drills recently conducted above the East and South China Seas, that rattled Japan and self-ruled Taiwan, are routine and normal military activities, China’s air force said on Thursday.
