Israeli official suggests Boehner misled Netanyahu on Congress speech
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A senior Israeli official suggested on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been misled into thinking an invitation to address the U.S. Congress on Iran next month was fully supported by the Democrats.
China newspaper warns against ‘McCarthyism’ at Hong Kong University
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Chinese state-backed newspaper on Friday defended a mainland student running for university office in Hong Kong against what it described as a dangerous “McCarthyite trend” in the former British colony.
Australian PM to face leadership vote after party-room revolt
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Embattled Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he will fight a challenge to his leadership at a party-room meeting next week after disgruntled government lawmakers on Friday sought to oust him following weeks of divisive specul…
EU must agree on intercepting Skype to help stop returning militants: report
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU member states must develop a common approach to lawfully intercept services such as Skype to stem the flow of European citizens returning from Syria radicalized and trained, the bloc’s agency on judicial cooperation said.
Taiwan turns to Chinese shipper for help with port in disputed waters
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan had to use a mainland Chinese shipper to get vital materials to a $100 million port it is building on a disputed island in the South China Sea last month after it couldn’t find a local firm to do the job, Taiwanese officials s…
Merkel dampens hopes for Ukraine ceasefire deal in Moscow talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was unclear whether she and French President Francois Hollande would achieve a breakthrough with Russian President Vladimir Putin in talks later on Friday aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukrai…
Myanmar nationalists threaten protests over Rohingya vote change
YANGON (Reuters) – Nationalist monks and some political leaders in Myanmar have threatened to hold mass rallies to protest a parliamentary decision giving the Rohingya ethnic minority voting rights in a referendum to amend the constitution.
Only 6 percent chance British election will result in majority government: research
LONDON (Reuters) – There is only a six percent chance the British election on May 7 will produce a majority government, according to analysis published on Friday, with opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband most likely to end up as prime minister.
U.S. lawmakers begin push for more sanctions on North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to broaden sanctions against North Korea by imposing stiffer punishments on foreign companies doing business with Pyongyang, a measure that could impact mostly on Chinese firms.
Islamic State in Syria seen under strain but far from collapse
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State’s defeat in Kobani and other recent setbacks in Syria suggest the group is under strain but far from collapse in the Syrian half of its self-declared caliphate.
