Crisis looms as HK legislators walk out to shun independence activists
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Dozens of pro-Beijing lawmakers walked out of the Hong Kong legislature on Wednesday to prevent the swearing-in of two pro-independence activists, setting the scene for a new constitutional crisis in the Chinese-controlled city.
Exclusive: China may give Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough – sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will consider giving Filipino fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after the presidents of the two countries meet in Beijing this week, two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership said.
Bad winter delays MH370 search by up to two months, say authorities
SYDNEY (Reuters) – An undersea search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be delayed by up to two months because of bad weather in the Indian Ocean during the southern winter, authorities said on Wednesday.
Venezuela delays state elections to 2017, opposition angry
CARACAS (Reuters) – Elections for Venezuela’s state governorships will be held in 2017 rather than December as expected, the election board said on Tuesday, giving the unpopular socialist government more breathing space before going to the polls.
U.S. expects Islamic State to wield chemical weapons in Mosul fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States expects Islamic State to use crude chemical weapons as it tries to repel an Iraqi-led offensive on the city of Mosul, U.S. officials say, although adding that the group’s technical ability to develop such weapon…
Syria rebels reject Aleppo withdrawal after Russian statement
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels said on Tuesday they rejected any withdrawal of fighters from Aleppo after Russia announced a halt in air raids which it said was designed to allow insurgents to leave and to separate moderate fighters from extremist mi…
Colombian opposition may meet with FARC rebels about peace deal
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Representatives from Colombia’s right-wing opposition could meet with leaders of the FARC rebels to discuss potential changes to a peace accord signed by the guerrillas and the government, opposition leader Alvaro Uribe said on Tuesd…
Learn from selfless Xi, Chinese TV says in graft documentary
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese officials should take a lesson from the selflessness of President Xi Jinping in not living extravagant lifestyles or separating themselves from the people, Chinese state television said in the latest episode of an anti-corru…
Ecuador acknowledges limiting Julian Assange’s web access
QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador’s government acknowledged on Tuesday it had partly restricted internet access for Julian Assange, the founder of anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks who has lived in the South American country’s London embassy since mid-2012.
Islamic State said to use human shields as coalition advances on Mosul
BAGHDAD/ERBIL (Reuters) – Residents of Mosul said Islamic State was using civilians as human shields as Iraqi and Kurdish forces captured outlying villages in their advance on the jihadists’ stronghold.
