Scotland will vote for independence in two years: Salmond
LONDON (Reuters) – Scotland will vote to become independent within two years due to the hardline position being taken by British Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit, former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond said on Friday.
Australia, India deals boost French arms sales to record 20 billion euros in 2016
PARIS (Reuters) – French weapons sales hit a record high of more than 20 billion euros ($21.33 billion) in 2016 after submarine contracts in Australia and fighter jet sales to India, France’s defense minister said.
Shippers avoid new ‘pirate hotspot’ in waters west of the Philippines
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A surge in piracy to the west of the Philippines is forcing shipowners to divert vessels through other waters, stoking their costs and extending the time it takes to transport goods such as Australian iron ore to key Asian destina…
Gambia’s Jammeh offered last chance for peaceful exit before troops advance
BANJUL (Reuters) – West African leaders were due in Banjul on Friday morning to offer Gambia’s veteran leader Yahya Jammeh a last chance to step down peacefully before regional forces, which have already entered the country, oust him.
Freed Myanmar farmers renew fight against army over land
YANGON (Reuters) – Farmers locked in a land dispute with Myanmar’s armed forces pledged to renew their fight after being released from jail on Friday, in a case testing leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s resolve to challenge the military’s economic interests.
Russia sees positive signs in Syria peace process: agencies cite Lavrov
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has observed positive signs in the Syria peace process and sees a meeting in the Kazakh capital next week as an important step toward establishing a framework for talks taking place in Geneva, Russian news agencies cited Forei…
Britain’s Johnson to visit Myanmar, says democratic transition not yet complete
LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who will visit Myanmar on Friday, said the former British colony’s transition to democracy was not yet complete but that Britain would offer its full support as a friend.
Turkish parliament nears approval of presidential system
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey edged closer to adopting a constitutional bill extending President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers overnight, with parliament approving four more articles of a reform which opponents see as a step towards an authoritarian state.
Japan PM aims to strengthen U.S. alliance under President Trump
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking in parliament hours before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, said on Friday he wanted to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.
Japan says mention of disputed islands on Korean Olympics site ‘unacceptable’
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday objected to mention on the Pyeongchang Olympics website of islands disputed by his country and South Korea, saying it was “unacceptable” and went against the spirit of the internationa…
