Tensions over South China Sea belie summit cordiality
VIENTIANE (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Wednesday it was “gravely concerned” that Chinese boats were preparing to build structures at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, shattering an appearance of cordiality at an Asian summit in Laos.
Temer heckled and booed in first events as Brazil president
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Protesters jeered Brazil’s new President Michel Temer on Wednesday as he participated in the county’s Independence Day parade in Brasilia and the opening ceremonies of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, his first official events si…
Father of former Nigeria militant dies following military incursion
YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) – The father of a former Nigerian militant leader has died after sustaining injuries during a government military campaign aimed at halting attacks on infrastructure in the oil-producing Delta region, his spokesman said late …
Israel strikes Syrian positions after shell lands in Golan-army
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli aircraft attacked targets in Syria on Thursday, for the second time in five days, after an errant mortar shell from fighting among factions in Syria struck the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said.
Maoists push back against modernizing China
BEIJING (Reuters) – Tears well up in Wang Shiji’s eyes as he describes the first time he saw Mao Zedong, waving to a crowd of Red Guards in Beijing at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 when Mao declared class war.
Mexico president replaces finance minister after damaging Trump visit
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday replaced his close ally and finance minister, Luis Videgaray, after the two were heavily criticized for Republican U.S presidential candidate Donald Trump’s controversial visit to Mexico…
U.S. Republicans seek to tie Syria refugee issue to spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some conservative U.S. Republican lawmakers want to tie President Barack Obama’s Syrian refugee resettlement program to a spending bill that must pass in order to keep the federal government open after the fiscal year ends on Sep…
U.S., Russia ‘not there yet’ on Syria deal: State Department
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and Russia have not reached a ceasefire deal for Syria, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, saying it could not confirm Moscow’s announcement that the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers would meet in Ge…
U.S. says Libya close to eliminating Islamic State from Sirte
LONDON (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Libyan forces are close to vanquishing Islamic State from its last holdouts in the city of Sirte, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.
Top Saudi cleric says Iran leaders not Muslims as haj row mounts
MECCA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s top religious authority said Iran’s leaders were not Muslims, drawing a rebuke from Tehran in an unusually harsh exchange between the regional rivals over the running of the annual haj pilgrimage.
