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.
Australia announces voting reforms, signaling possible early polls
(Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced a bill on electoral reform on Monday, signaling a potential dissolution of parliament and an early election to break political deadlock.
Evo Morales looks set to lose Bolivia referendum on fourth term
LA PAZ (Reuters) – Bolivian President Evo Morales looked headed for defeat in a referendum on whether the leftist leader can seek a fourth term in office, according to exit polls and early results on Sunday.
China weapons exports surge over past five years: report
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has almost doubled its weapons exports in the past five years, a military think tank said on Monday, as the world’s third-largest weapons exporter pours capital into developing an advanced arms manufacturing industry.
Conditions not met for April 24 elections in Macedonia: EU, U.S.
SKOPJE (Reuters) – The European Union and the United States said on Sunday Macedonia had failed to create conditions for free and fair elections on April 24 as envisaged in an EU-brokered agreement last year.
Army claims advances in Libyan cities of Benghazi and Ajdabiya
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Military forces loyal to Libya’s eastern government said on Sunday they had pushed back Islamist fighters in several areas of Benghazi, seizing the strategic port of Marisa.
