Vietnam Communist Party re-elects Trong as leader
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s Communist Party re-elected Nguyen Phu Trong as its leader on Wednesday, a party source and state media said, a widely expected outcome after the exit from the politburo of the country’s powerful prime minister.
Exclusive: White House dropped $10 million claim in Iran prisoner deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nader Modanlo was facing five more years in federal prison when he got an extraordinary offer: U.S. President Barack Obama was ready to commute his sentence as part of this month’s historic and then still-secret prisoner swap wit…
Malaysian anti-graft agency seeks review of PM Najib probe decision
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s anti-graft agency said on Wednesday it will seek a review of a decision by the attorney-general to clear Prime Minister Najib Razak in a graft investigation.
U.N. chief Ban slams Israeli settlements as ‘provocative acts’
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday slammed Israel’s settlement activities as “provocative acts” that raise questions about the nation’s commitment to a two-state solution amid growing Palestinian frustration over n…
Canada to lift Tehran sanctions, allow Bombardier to export to Iran
OTTAWA/MONTREAL (Reuters) – Canada confirmed for the first time on Tuesday that it plans to lift its sanctions on Tehran and said that if Airbus is allowed to sell to Iran, then its aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there as wel…
Boosting Middle East economy is way to beat extremism: Iranian president
ROME (Reuters) – Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability.
Police give all clear after Saudi, Qatar missions to U.N. evacuated
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Police cleared a suspicious package on Tuesday that had led to the evacuation of a building opposite the United Nations headquarters in New York that houses the U.N. missions of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
U.N. invites warring parties to Syria talks this week
AMMAN/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations invited Syria’s government and opposition to peace talks in Geneva on Friday, but Saudi-backed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have yet to decide whether to drop their objections to taking part….
South Korea says suspects North Korea may have attempted cyber attacks
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Wednesday it suspected North Korea of attempting cyber attacks against targets in the South, following a nuclear test by the North this month that defied United Nations sanctions.
Brazil sees worst decline in global corruption rankings
BERLIN (Reuters) – Brazil suffered the sharpest deterioration in public perceptions of corruption last year, global watchdog Transparency International (TI) said in its annual report published on Wednesday that showed graft remains pervasive worldwide….
