Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia seeks vote on joining Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia said it plans a Crimean-style referendum on joining Russia, drawing a furious riposte from Tbilisi over a move that risks inflaming the Kremlin’s already frayed relations with the West.
Malaysian opposition move against PM delayed to next parliament session: speaker
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A no-confidence motion planned by Malaysia’s opposition alliance against embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak will not be heard by the current session of parliament, the speaker of the house said on Tuesday.
Indian child welfare ministry denies criticism of government policies
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Women and Child Welfare Ministry on Tuesday denied that comments made to Reuters about the impact of budget cuts on a child nutrition program constituted a criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies.
Top U.S. general plays down chances of Russia joining air campaign in Iraq
ERBIL (Reuters) – U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford played down the chances of Russia joining the U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Iraq in the near future as he made his first trip to Iraq as top U.S. military official.
Over 500,000 migrants reach Greece this year, arrival rate rising: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Over half a million refugees and migrants have arrived by sea in Greece this year and the rate of arrivals is rising with over 8,000 coming on Monday alone, in a rush to beat the onset of freezing winter, the United Nations said on T…
China says South China Sea lighthouses not meant to alter ‘status quo’
BEIJING (Reuters) – China does not seek to change the existing status of territorial claims in the South China Sea with its newly built lighthouses, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, arguing that Beijing already had “indisputable sovereignty” in th…
Iran returns Saudi accusations of cross-border meddling
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran rejected criticism from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday about Tehran’s interventions in unstable countries in the Middle East, and accused the kingdom in turn of playing a destabilizing role in the volatile region.
Approval ratings boost marks Indonesia Widodo’s first year in office
JAKARTA (Reuters) – President Joko Widodo has regained the approval of most Indonesians, an opinion poll showed as he marked his first year in office on Tuesday, evidence that an overhaul in the way he governs Southeast Asia’s largest economy is starti…
Korean families torn by war six decades ago rejoice in reunions
SOKCHO, South Korea (Reuters) – Nearly 400 South Koreans crossed the heavily armed border into North Korea on Tuesday to be reunited, in an outpouring of emotions and tears, with family members separated for more than six decades since the 1950-53 Kore…
Charles to miss banquet for China’s Xi; not a snub, says royal source
LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Charles is not snubbing Chinese President Xi Jinping by missing a state banquet in his honor at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday as some media have suggested, according to a royal source.
