China releases activist as U.N.’s Ban calls for civil society respect
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police on Thursday released on bail a legal assistant who worked for a prominent human rights lawyer after almost a year in detention on subversion charges, as the visiting U.N. secretary general called on China to respect c…
Support for Ireland’s main opposition surges amid Brexit uncertainty
LONDON (Reuters) – Support for Ireland’s main opposition party Fianna Fail has surged since its decision to back Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s minority government from opposition, resulting in a nine percentage point lead, an opinion poll showed on Thurs…
China, asked about new North Korea sanctions, says opposes pressure
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that it opposed the use of unilateral sanctions after the United States announced sanctions on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first time, citing human rights abuses.
U.S. destroyers sail close to Chinese-held features in South China Sea as court case looms
HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. destroyers have sailed close to Chinese-held reefs and islands in the disputed South China Sea in recent weeks, U.S. naval officials said on Thursday, patrols likely to fuel tension ahead of landmark ruling over Beijing’s mar…
Cambodia dismisses report detailing PM’s family business
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia dismissed on Thursday accusations by an anti-corruption pressure group that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family have amassed $200 million in business interests including some with links to land grabs and environmental …
Russia reminds wayward ally Belarus of its economic muscle
MOSCOW/MINSK (Reuters) – When Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko began trying to loosen his close ties with Moscow, fearing his country would be the next target.
Car bomb kills 12 Libyan troops in Benghazi: military source
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – A car bomb has killed 12 Libyan troops allied to General Khalifa Haftar, commander of forces with the country’s eastern government, who have been fighting a campaign against Islamist militants there, a military source said.
U.N.’s Ban stresses to China the need to peacefully resolve South China Sea dispute
BEIJING (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he has stressed to China the need for differences over the disputed South China to be resolved peacefully.
Australian PM wins key support, edges closer to forming government
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared likely to retain power after gaining the support of a key independent on Thursday, although the closeness of the vote signaled more tough political and economic times ahea…
Multinational crew blasts off for space station
(Reuters) – A three-member multinational crew blasted off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan on Thursday for a two-day trip to the International Space Station, a NASA TV broadcast showed.
