Philippines’ Duterte says he may not ‘be around’ till end of term
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he might not “be around” until the end of his term, and that, after winning the presidency at 71, he had found out late in the day that “I don’t need it at my age”.
South Korea lawmakers to quiz doctors, nurses about Park’s ‘missing’ seven hours
SEOUL (Reuters) – Seven hours may have sealed the fate of South Korea’s beleaguered President Park Geun-hye. That was the time between the first news reports that the Sewol ferry carrying hundreds of children was sinking off the nation’s southern coast…
U.S. paves way for possible $1.7 billion tank sale to Kuwait: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has given its approval for a possible $1.7 billion military sale to Kuwait for the recapitalization of 218 M1A2 tanks and related equipment, services and training, a Pentagon agency said on Tuesday.
Iraqi Shi’ite forces aim to clear border strip with Syria
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Shi’ite forces fighting Islamic State west of Mosul aim to clear a large strip of land on the border with Syria to prevent the militants melting into the remote desert region and using it as a base for counter attacks, a spoke…
Preparing for Trump, EU to back defence spending review: draft
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is set to call for a defence review process on Thursday that could name and shame governments not spending enough at a time of renewed U.S. criticism that Europe does not pay enough for its security.
Egypt says church bomber linked to Muslim Brotherhood
CAIRO (Reuters) – A suicide bomber who killed at least 25 people in Cairo’s main cathedral on Sunday was a Muslim Brotherhood supporter who joined a militant cell while on the run from police, the Interior Ministry said.
Italy convicts Tunisian over sinking that killed almost 700 migrants
CATANIA, Sicily (Reuters) – A Tunisian man accused of being the captain of a migrant boat that sank killing almost 700 people was found guilty of multiple manslaughter and people-smuggling on Tuesday and sentenced to 18 years in jail.
Turkey detains 568 people over PKK links after Istanbul bomb attacks: statement
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish authorities have detained 568 people over alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group in the last two days, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.
Refugees bring a taste of Syria to German Christmas market
SCHILLINGSFUERST, Germany (Reuters) – Alongside the traditional gluehwein and sausages on offer at a Christmas market in small-town Bavaria, visitors could also try more exotic fare: falafel and kibbeh served by a family of refugees from the Syrian war…
Bulgarian reformists in long-shot bid to form government
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s small right-wing Reformist Bloc on Tuesday launched an against-the-odds bid to form a new government and avert a snap parliamentary election, despite controlling less than 10 percent of the seats in parliament.
