U.S. patrol sought to avoid provocation, not reinforce China island claim: officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy deliberately avoided military drills or other actions that could have further inflamed tensions with Beijing during a patrol last week near islands China has built in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said.
Leaders of China, Taiwan to meet for first time in six decades
BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Leaders of political rivals Taiwan and China meet for the first time in more than 60 years on Saturday for talks that come amid rising anti-Chinese sentiment on the self-ruled democratic island and weeks ahead of elections…
Germany, France see progress in Ukraine peace talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists have agreed to complete a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from their frontlines in eastern Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday after a round of peace talks…
White House ‘very concerned’ about possible chemical weapons use in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Friday it was “very concerned” with the initial findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Sound of explosion heard on Russian plane’s black box: French TV
PARIS (Reuters) – The sound of an explosion could be heard on the black boxes recovered from a Russian plane that crashed over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, according to an investigator who had access to them, French TV station France 2 said on …
Colombia president apologizes for military actions in 1985 law courts assault
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday apologized for military actions during a 1985 assault on Bogota’s Palace of Justice by M-19 rebels, in which over 100 people died including nearly half of the country’s Supreme Court j…
Polish leaders clash over attendance at EU migration summit
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s president rejected suggestions on Friday that he had effectively ensured the country would not be represented at next week’s European Union summit on migration by setting the first sitting of the country’s new parliament for…
Portugal left agrees on government deal, PM says could be ousted
LISBON (Reuters) – Two small far left parties have concluded talks with the moderate Socialists to create an alternative government and oust the centre-right, whose prime minister acknowledged on Friday he could be forced into opposition.
Gulf security needs seen displacing jet orders in Dubai
DUBAI (Reuters) – After sizzling with record jetliner purchases from Gulf airlines in recent years, next week’s Dubai Airshow will be dominated by the presence of arms manufacturers as Gulf states weigh their security needs in a region increasingly on …
Portugal Communists reach joint position with Socialists on new government
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s Communist Party said on Friday the conditions are now in place for the creation of a government led by the center-left Socialists and the ousting of the center-right from power.
