Taiwan says it plans rescue drills in South China Sea this month
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s coastguard has said it plans to hold rescue drills in waters around Taipei’s sole territorial holding in the disputed South China Sea at the end of this month, and that the drills could involve its navy.
China’s Xi calls on HK leader to maintain stability
BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to uphold national unity and maintain social and political stability, state news agency Xinhua said on Monday.
Obama offers bleak assessment of situation in Syria
LIMA (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday that chaos in Syria could persist for “quite some time” and that Russian and Iranian support for President Bashar al-Assad’s air campaign had emboldened the Syrian leader’s crackdown on rebels…
Syrian family, pupils among dozens killed in Aleppo attacks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Rebel shelling killed eight children at a school in the government-held part of Aleppo on Sunday and a barrel bomb killed a family of six in the rebel-held area, part of a heavy government bombardment that has knocked out all the hos…
China puts army on high alert after fighting in northeastern Myanmar
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China has said its army is on high alert after armed groups in Myanmar attacked military and police posts close to their shared border at the weekend and that it is providing shelter for a number of people who fled the fighting.
Japan and China seek improved ties in impromptu APEC talks
LIMA (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday that he aims to improve ties with China by capitalizing on key anniversaries for bilateral relations in the next few years, a Japanese government spokesman …
France’s Fillon wins top spot in conservative primary, Sarkozy out
PARIS (Reuters) – French voters defied expectations on Sunday by throwing ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy out of the race to be the conservatives’ nominee for the presidential election and propelling his ex-prime minister Francois Fillon to top spot.
Strong quake hits near Argentina, Chile border, no damage reported
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – A strong quake hit western Argentina, shaking buildings as far away as Santiago, the capital of neighboring Chile, though there were no reports of damage to people, infrastructure or basic services.
Venezuela hopes for improved U.S. relations in Trump presidency
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he hopes for an improvement in relations with nemesis the United States after Donald Trump’s White House win, despite last year calling the real estate tycoon a “bandit and thief.”
Russian President Putin says Trump confirmed willing to mend ties
LIMA (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday U.S. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed to him he was willing to mend ties, though he also said he would welcome President Barack Obama in Russia.
