Czechs roll out red carpet for first visit by Chinese president
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a two-day state visit to Prague on Monday to promote business ties, crowning efforts by Czech President Milos Zeman to build a strategic relationship with Beijing.
Saudi-led alliance confirms Yemen prisoner swap
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Saudi-led military coalition on Monday said it had completed a prisoner swap in Yemen, exchanging nine Saudi prisoners for 109 Yemeni nationals ahead of a planned truce and peace talks aimed at ending the year-long war with Houthi r…
Israel backs out of spat with Brazil over settler named as envoy
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel reassigned its pick for ambassador to Brazil to a U.S. posting on Monday, backing off in a spat with Brasilia over the nominee’s links to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Japan’s Abe expected to delay sales tax rise, call snap election – again
TOKYO (Reuters) – In late 2014, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe caught markets and voters off-guard when he postponed an unpopular sales tax hike and called a snap election. Less than two years later, the only surprise will be if he doesn’t repeat t…
Iran congratulates Syria’s Assad on regaining Palmyra
DUBAI (Reuters) – The secretary of the Iranian National Security Council has congratulated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on regaining the city of Palmyra, Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.
Three Russian attack helicopters leave Syria for Russia: TV
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Three heavy attack helicopters have left Moscow’s Hmeymim airbase in Syria for Russia, Russian state TV channel Rossiya-24 reported on Monday.
Suspected money launderer for ‘El Chapo’ detained in Mexico
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A man suspected of laundering money for jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was detained in southwestern Mexico, and faces extradition to the United States, Mexican authorities said on Sunday.
China military to end paid-for services within three years
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s military will end so-called paid for services within the next three years, state media said on Monday, the latest move to modernize the armed forces amid a reform and anti-corruption push.
Algeria helicopter crash kills at least 12 soldiers: ministry
ALGIERS (Reuters) – At least 12 Algerian soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in the south of the country, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
Dutch anti-terrorism police arrest suspect at France’s request
AMSTERDAM(Reuters) – Dutch anti-terrorism police on Sunday arrested a 32-year-old man in Rotterdam on suspicion of preparing an attack on France and also detained three other people, national prosecutors said.
