Kremlin says regrets Turkey has not acted to mend ties over downed Russian warplane
(Reuters) – Russia regrets that Turkey has not taken the necessary steps to mend ties damaged by Ankara’s shooting down of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border last year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
China’s Xi calls for calm, restraint on Korean peninsula
BEIJING (Reuters) – China hopes all parties on the Korean peninsula will remain calm and exercise restraint, President Xi Jinping told a visiting North Korean envoy on Wednesday, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Japan PM Abe postpones sales tax hike until October 2019
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Wednesday a delay in a sales tax increase by 2-1/2 years, putting plans for fiscal reform on the back burner amid weakness in the economy.
As Beijing flexes muscles in South China Sea, Malaysia eyes harder response
MIRI, Malaysia (Reuters) – Spotting a large vessel off the coast of Sarawak state in March, officers on a Malaysian patrol boat were shocked when it steamed toward them at high speed, blaring its horn before veering off to reveal “Chinese Coast Guard” …
North Korea’s missile and nuclear projects unacceptable, Japan envoy says
TOKYO (Reuters) – North Korea’s intention to carry on with its nuclear and missile programs cannot be tolerated, Japan’s chief envoy to stalled six-party talks for denuclearizing North Korea said on Wednesday after talks with U.S. and South Korean coun…
Britons evenly split ahead of EU referendum: YouGov online poll
LONDON (Reuters) – British voters are evenly split between “Remain” and “Leave” ahead of a June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the European Union, according to the latest online opinion poll from YouGov for The Times newspaper.
Jordan king swears in new government to prepare for elections: palace source
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordanian King Abdullah swore in a new government led by a business-friendly politician on Wednesday and charged him with preparing for parliamentary elections by September and pushing y legislation to spur sluggish growth.
Dead tiger cubs found in Thai temple amid trafficking fears
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai wildlife authorities found 40 tiger cub carcasses in a freezer in Thailand’s infamous Tiger Temple on Wednesday as they removed live animals in response to international pressure over suspected trafficking and abuse.
How to grow food in drought-hit Zimbabwe? Add irrigation
CHIPINGE, Zimbabwe (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Several rivers pass from Zimbabwe’s lush Eastern highlands through the lowlands of drought-hit Chipinge, Mutare and Chimanimani districts. But while river water is plentiful, hard-up farmers have no way…
Turkish PM Yildirim says German vote on Armenian killings ‘ridiculous’
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday a resolution expected to be approved by German lawmakers declaring the 1915 mass killings of Armenians a genocide was “ridiculous” and would damage ties between the two count…
