Japan’s asylum applications exceed 2014 level by end-October
TOKYO (Reuters) – The number of people seeking asylum in Japan this year hit a full-year record by the end of October, government data shows, as looser visa rules and severe labor shortages attract more of those fleeing conflict and poverty.
Japan agrees to raise host-nation spending for U.S. military
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan will boost its spending for U.S. forces stationed there by 1.4 percent for the next five years, the Japanese government said on Wednesday, supporting the U.S. military’s Asian presence in the face of a rising China.
Former PM Major says EU exit would leave Britain in dangerous ‘splendid isolation’
LONDON (Reuters) – Quitting the European Union would leave Britain in dangerous “splendid isolation” and could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom itself, former Prime Minister John Major said on Wednesday.
Afghan forces seize two tonnes of explosives in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan security forces have seized and destroyed two tonnes of ammonium nitrate, an ingredient of improvised explosives, foiling dozens of potential bomb attacks, the intelligence agency said on Wednesday.
Padded cells and soft spoons await China graft suspects
BEIJING (Reuters) – Padded cells to prevent suicide and soft spoons that cannot be made into weapons await officials suspected of corruption in one holding center in southwestern China, in unusual images of China’s graft fight carried by a state-run ne…
Rival Libyan parliament chiefs meet, reject U.N. peace deal
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The leaders of Libya’s rival parliaments rejected a U.N. peace deal a day before moderates from both sides were due to sign it, highlighting the deep splits challenging international efforts to end the fighting.
Italy PM Renzi says Russian sanctions to be reviewed in coming months
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday that Europe and other Western countries are likely to review their economic sanctions against Russia in coming months.
Philippine court puts off ruling on U.S. military pact
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday put off for a second time a decision on the legality of a new security agreement with the United States, raising fresh doubt about a deal that would give U.S forces access to Philippine milit…
Russia says Montenegro should hold referendum on joining NATO
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Montenegro should hold a referendum on joining NATO, and less than half of the country’s population backs joining the military alliance, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
North Korea sentences Canadian pastor to hard labor for life: Xinhua
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea’s highest court has sentenced a South Korea-born Canadian pastor to hard labor for life for subversion, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
