King of Spain’s brother-in-law avoids jail while appealing tax-fraud conviction
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish court decided on Thursday not to hold the King of Spain’s brother-in-law in custody while he awaits an appeal against a six-year jail sentence for charges including tax fraud and money laundering.
Philippines to defend Duterte’s drug war at U.N. rights body
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine foreign minister on Thursday said he would tell a United Nations rights body that the killings in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs were not state-sponsored.
China promises not to build in disputed shoal: Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised his Philippine counterpart that China would not build structures on a rocky outcrop both countries claim in the South China Sea, a Philippine government minister said on Thursday.
China military says aware of U.S. carrier in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s defense ministry said on Thursday it was aware of the presence of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the South China Sea and China respected freedom of navigation for all countries in the waters there.
Hungary central banker’s claims of political interference “not credible”, U.S. says
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – The United States said on Thursday Hungary’s central bank chief lacked credibility in accusing an unspecified “large NATO ally” of trying to topple the Hungarian government two years ago.
Syria’s warring sides trade fire with peace talks set to begin, monitor says
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian warplanes carried out air strikes on rebel-held areas in Deraa and Hama provinces and insurgents fired rockets at government targets on Thursday, the day peace talks are set to begin in Geneva, a war monitoring group said.
UK crime agency arrests suspect in Deutsche Telekom cyber attack
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested a suspect in connection with last year’s cyber attack which infected nearly 1 million Deutsche Telekom routers, German federal police said on Thursday.
Cuba says it foiled plot to destabilize country, slams dissidents and OAS
HAVANA (Reuters) – Communist-ruled Cuba on Wednesday said it had foiled a serious plot aiming to destabilize the country by preventing the chief of the Organization of American States traveling to the island to attend an award ceremony organized by dis…
Cambodia jails land rights activist for 2-1/2 years
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – A Cambodian court convicted and sentenced a prominent land rights activist to 2-1/2 years in jail on Thursday for her role in a protest outside Prime Minister Hun Sen’s residence in 2013.
Japan protests Russian military buildup plan in decades-old islands dispute
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has protested to Russia over its plan to boost troop strength on disputed islands, Japan’s top government spokesman said on Thursday, the latest move in a territorial row that has overshadowed ties since World War Two.
