Syrian rebels launch second Damascus attack in three days
AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels stormed a government-held area in northeastern Damascus on Tuesday for the second time in three days, sources on both sides of the fighting said, in the opposition’s first such large scale foray in over four years…
Taiwan to build its own submarine, president vows on visit to 50-year-old vessel
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan will build its own submarines, President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Tuesday, as the self-ruled island looks to fresh arms sales by the United States, accompanied by key submarine technology, to counter a growing milita…
China to talk new Silk Road in Australia, no deal expected yet
BEIJING (Reuters) – China expects positive moves to signing up Australia for its New Silk Road initiative when Premier Li Keqiang visits this week, but two sources familiar with the issues said the Australian government is likely to bide its time befor…
China says number of ‘terror attacks’ is down, but threat remains high
BEIJING (Reuters) – The number of violent attacks by “terrorist cells” in China has dropped due to increased security measures, state media reported on Tuesday, however it also cited experts as saying the level of attempted violence remains high.
‘You know there’s crocs there’ says teen bitten after jumping in river
(Reuters) – An Australian teenager who was bitten by a crocodile when he jumped into a river in northern Queensland on a dare is now recovering in hospital and looking forward to a date with the British backpacker he was trying to impress.
Japan cabinet approves anti-conspiracy bill amid civil rights concerns
TOKYO(Reuters) – Japan’s cabinet on Tuesday approved legislation that would penalize criminal conspiracies, a move critics say threatens civil liberties, but officials say is needed to prevent terrorist targeting events like the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Iraq’s Abadi says he wins Trump’s assurances of more U.S. support
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he won assurances of greater U.S. support in fighting Islamic State militants in talks on Monday with President Donald Trump and top advisers, but cautioned that military might alone woul…
Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April – sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to skip a meeting with NATO foreign ministers next month in order to stay home for a visit by China’s president and will go to Russia later in April, U.S. officials said on Monday, disc…
Indonesia police say Interpol issues red notices for three Sinopec executives
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian police said on Tuesday Interpol has issued red notices, the closest to an international arrest warrant, for three Chinese executives suspected of fraud linked to a more than $800 million Sinopec oil terminal development i…
Canada refugee claims spike in first two months of 2017
TORONTO (Reuters) – A spike in refugee claims for the first two months of 2017 put Canada on track for the highest number since at least 2011. A fifth of those claimants were caught crossing the border illegally.
