With new decree, Palestinian leader tightens grip
GAZA/RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has quietly established a constitutional court that analysts say concentrates more power in his hands and may allow him to sideline the Islamist group Hamas in the event of a succ…
France announces aid to youths to defuse ‘Up All Night’ tensions
PARIS (Reuters) – The French government announced about half a billion euros in aid for students on Monday in an attempt to defuse anger from protesters who said they would gather again on a central Paris square for the 12th night in a row.
Taiwan accuses China of kidnapping eight of its nationals from Kenya
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan on Monday accused China, which regards the self-ruled island as a breakaway province, of kidnapping eight of its nationals who it said had been acquitted in a cyber crime case in Kenya.
Germany says examining Turkish request to prosecute satirist
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany said on Monday it was examining a formal request made by Turkey for it to prosecute a comedian who recited an obscene poem about Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a satirical show on national television.
Somalia publicly executes former al Shabaab spokesman
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A former media officer for the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab was publicly executed by a government firing squad on Monday for ordering the death of six journalists, court officials said.
Iran says Russia delivers first part of S-300 defense system
DUBAI (Reuters) – Russia has delivered the first part of an advanced missile defense system to Iran, Iranian media reported on Monday, starting to equip Tehran with technology that was blocked before it signed a deal with world powers on its nuclear pr…
Turkey will not drop demand for ending Gaza blockade: Erdogan’s spokesman
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey will not drop its demand for an end to the blockade of Gaza in order to normalize relations with Israel, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Monday.
Six dead in Pakistan after strong quake rattles South Asia
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Six people were killed across northern Pakistan although there appeared to be no widespread damage after a strong earthquake rattled major cities across South Asia at the weekend, authorities said on Monday.
South Korea reveals defection last year of two North Korea officials
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – Two senior North Korean officials, including an army colonel specializing in espionage against the South, defected to South Korea last year, the Seoul government said on Monday.
China’s Xinjiang offers $800,000 rewards for tip offs on militant attacks
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang will offer rewards of up to 5 million yuan ($772,738) for tip offs about terrorist attacks, the government there said on Monday, in the latest stability move by authorities.
