Syria opposition official signals will go to Geneva talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A member of the main Syrian opposition council indicated on Monday it will go to talks that the United Nations aims to convene in Geneva, though another opposition official said they had yet to make a decision.
Merkel’s party losing support before state votes: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are losing support ahead of elections in three German states on Sunday that are shaping up as a litmus test of her migrant policies.
China says new Tibet railway project will not harm environment
BEIJING (Reuters) – Tibet’s environment will not be damaged by the construction of a second railroad linking the remote area to the rest of China, the region’s deputy Communist Party boss said on Monday.
Australian Navy says seizes huge weapons cache headed for Somalia
NAIROBI (Reuters) – An Australian Navy ship has seized a huge cache of weapons near Oman’s coast from a fishing vessel bound for Somalia, the navy said on Monday, exposing a possible violation of a U.N. Security Council arms embargo.
Putin, Sisi agree about need to fight terrorists in Libya, Yemen: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted in a phone conversation on Monday that the fight against terrorists should continue not only in Syria but also in Libya and Yemen, the Kremlin s…
Powerful Iraqi cleric says supporters’ protests meant to help reforms
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Powerful Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Monday street protests by his supporters demanding the Iraqi government’s resignation were intended to bolster the resolve of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to deliver on promis…
South China Sea fishing activities proof of China’s maritime rights: official
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s fishermen operating in the South China Sea give proof of the country’s maritime rights and interests, a government official said on Monday, referring to ships on the frontlines of China’s push to assert its claims in dispute…
Germany says Merkel discussed press freedom with Turkish PM
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed freedom of the press on Sunday, following the seizure of Turkey’s largest newspaper by authorities, a German government spokeswoman said.
Japanese submarine to visit Philippines: sources
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese submarine will visit the Philippines for the first time in 15 years, along with two warships that will then sail on to Vietnam, in a show of support for nations opposed to Beijing’s ambitions in the South China Sea, a perso…
Tiny Marshall Islands take on India in nuclear disarmament fight
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – A small chain of Pacific islands – some of which were once vapourized by atomic bomb tests – sought in court on Monday to force India, the world’s second-most populous country, to get on board with nuclear disarmament.
