U.S. rejected North Korea peace talks offer before last nuclear test: State Department
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States rejected a North Korean proposal to discuss a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War because it did not address denuclearization on the peninsula, the State Department said on Sunday.
Kazakhstan launches probe against media figure ahead of election
ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption agency is investigating the head of the journalists’ union Seitkazy Matayev over suspected theft and tax evasion, it said on Monday, less than a month before a parliamentary election.
Uganda opposition leader Besigye held again in vote aftermath
KAMPALA (Reuters) – Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was detained for the fourth time in eight days on Monday, after he failed to unseat long-serving President Yoweri Museveni in an election observers say was marked by intimidation and lacked tr…
Afghan troops pull out of second Helmand district
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Afghan government forces have pulled out of a second district in Helmand, officials said on Monday, leaving the Taliban in control of most of the northern part of the province after troops withdrew from Musa Qala di…
Japan’s scandals, shaky economy erode Abe’s support as polls loom
TOKYO (Reuters) – Voter support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slipped to below 50 percent in a weekend opinion poll, sending a warning signal to the government with an election less than six months away.
Infant refugee becomes face of Australia’s tough asylum seeker policies
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The significant sympathy generated by the detention and likely deportation of a baby girl born in Australia to Nepalese parents could be a watershed in public opinion about the country’s harsh asylum seeker policies.
Saudi Arabia puts Shi’ites on trial for spying for Iran
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has put 32 people on trial, including 30 members of its own Shi’ite Muslim minority, accused of spying for Iran, several local newspapers and television reported on Monday.
Irish PM’s coalition struggles ahead of election, inconclusive poll possible
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Support for Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael party held steady in an opinion poll on Monday but his coalition government remained some way short of the support needed to stay in office at Friday’s election.
U.S. urges wider challenge to China’s claims in South China Sea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia and other countries should follow the U.S. lead and conduct “freedom-of-navigation” naval operations within 12 nautical miles of contested islands in the South China Sea, a senior U.S. naval officer was reported as saying o…
Stability still elusive despite peaceful Central African election
BANGUI (Reuters) – As rival gunmen tightened their stranglehold on Central African Republic during three years of inter-religious bloodshed, women like Madeleine Nzanga became, and remain, lifelines for the nation’s war-weary people.
