Jordan says executes 15 people, 10 for terrorism convictions
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan executed 15 people on Saturday including 10 convicted on terrorism charges ranging from an attack a decade ago on Western tourists to the slaying of a writer, a judicial source and the government spokesman Mohammad al Momani sa…
Malaysia rejects ‘insinuation’ it violated U.N. sanctions on North Korea
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia on Saturday rejected any suggestion it may have violated sanctions imposed by the United Nations on North Korea, after a Reuters report said North Korea-linked firms were running an arms network in the country.
China’s anti-corruption overhaul paves way for Xi to retain key ally
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s sweeping overhaul of its anti-corruption architecture could enable President Xi Jinping to justify retaining his key ally and top graft buster Wang Qishan beyond retirement age, sources with ties to the leadership say.
China’s 2017 defense budget rise to slow again
BEIJING (Reuters) – Defying pressure for a strong increase in defense spending, China said on Saturday its military budget this year would grow about 7 percent, its slowest pace since 2010.
U.S. secretary of state to visit Japan, South Korea, China: Kyodo
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to visit Japan, South Korea and China this month to discuss North Korea on his first trip to the region since he took up his post, Japanese media reported on Saturday.
France’s Le Pen loses ground in poll after state employee comments
PARIS (Reuters) – An apparent threat by far-right leader Marine le Pen to punish state employees who “persecute” political opponents may have eroded her support, according to a poll which found her first-round lead in France’s presidential election sli…
North Korean murder suspect says Malaysia in conspiracy to damage Pyongyang’s honor
BEIJING (Reuters) – Ri Jong Chol, a suspect in the murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader, said in Beijing that he was a victim of a conspiracy by Malaysian authorities attempting to damage the honor of North Korea.
Georgia suspends ownership change for broadcaster after euro court ruling
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia, responding to an intervention from a European court, on Friday suspended a ruling from a domestic court that had placed the country’s biggest independent TV station under the control of a close ally of the government.
Erdogan says German journalist held in Turkey was agent and PKK member
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan responded to Berlin’s criticism of Turkey’s arrest of a German journalist by saying on Friday Deniz Yucel was a “German agent” and a member of a militant Kurdish armed group.
Armed faction enters major Libyan oil ports, putting output at risk
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – An armed faction entered two major Libyan oil ports on Friday, pushing back forces that captured and reopened the terminals in September, officials and residents said.
