Duterte hopes Russia will become Philippines’ ally and protector
MANILA (Reuters) – President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday that he hoped Moscow, a rival of the Philippine’s traditional ally the United States, would become his country’s ally and protector as he toured one of the two Russian warships on a four-day v…
Merkel’s conservatives gain support despite Berlin attack: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Support for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc is up despite the Christmas market attack in Berlin that killed 12 people, and most Germans are not worried about terrorism, an opinion poll showed on Friday.
Turkey paying price for U.S. alliance with Syrian Kurdish militia: defense minister
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and the region are paying the price for the United States choosing the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia as a partner in the fight against Islamic State, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said on Friday.
South Korea minister says China indirectly retaliating against THAAD
SEJONG, South Korea (Reuters) – China is suspected to be taking indirect action against South Korea’s decision last year to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system, South Korea’s finance minister said.
Turkey’s ‘two-headed’ model unsustainable, constitutional change needed to avert crises: Simsek
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s “two-headed” political model is unsustainable in the long term even if there is now great harmony between the president and prime minister and constitutional change is essential to prevent potential future crises, Deputy P…
Islamic State militants kill four soldiers near Iraq’s Tikrit: army, police sources
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants attacked an Iraqi army outpost and a police station near the city of Tikrit on Friday, killing at least four soldiers and wounding 12 others, military and police sources said.
Bangladesh police kill prime suspect in July cafe attack
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladeshi police shot dead two Islamist militants on Friday in a gunfight in Dhaka, including a prime suspect in the killing of 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, in a cafe in the capital last year.
Turkish military says 32 Islamic State militants killed in Syrian operations
ANKARA (Reuters) – The Turkish military and Syrian rebels killed 32 Islamic State militants in the latest clashes in northern Syria on Thursday, Turkey’s armed forces said in a statement on Friday.
Japan to recall envoy from South Korea over ‘comfort women’ statue
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan said on Friday it was temporarily recalling its ambassador to South Korea over a statue commemorating Korean women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two which it said violated an agreement to resolve …
Abe tells Biden important for Japan, South Korea to carry out ‘comfort women’ agreement
TOKYO (Reuters) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden it was important for Japan and South Korea to carry out their agreement on the issue of “comfort women”, the Japanese government said in a statement on Friday.
