Australia asks Indonesia to rethink death penalty for two drug offenders
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia called on Indonesia on Friday to reconsider its decision to execute two Australians convicted of drug offences, a move that is likely to strain already fragile ties between the two neighbors.
Islamic State threat could stiffen Japan PM Abe’s stance on security
TOKYO (Reuters) – (This January 21 story was corrected to fix Abe’s age in ninth paragraph)
U.S., Iraq preparing for assault to recapture Mosul: WSJ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and Iraq have started preparing for an offensive by summer to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul, which was taken by Islamic State militants last June, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
U.S. presses Cuba on human rights in talks on restoring ties
HAVANA (Reuters) – The United States said it pressed Cuba to improve human rights during historic, high-level talks on Thursday, annoying the Cubans after both sides reported making progress toward restoring diplomatic relations.
Japan foreign minister: making all efforts for swift release of captives
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday that Japan was making all efforts for the swift release of two men held captive by the Islamic State but added that there was no change in Tokyo’s stance of not giving in to terro…
U.S. pulls more staff from Yemen embassy amid deepening crisis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has pulled more staff out of its embassy in Yemen, U.S. officials said on Thursday as Washington scrambled to cope with the collapse of a government that had been a key ally in the fight against al Qaeda.
Lawyer for former Australian Guantanamo detainee says U.S. agrees he is innocent
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The United States has agreed that Australian David Hicks, jailed on terrorism charges for five years at Guantanamo, is innocent, his lawyer said on Friday.
Yemen president quits, throwing country deeper into chaos
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi resigned on Thursday, days after Houthi rebels battled their way into his presidential palace, plunging the unstable Arab country deeper into chaos and depriving Washington of a key ally against…
Fugitives facing U.S. fraud charges vulnerable under deal with Cuba
HAVANA/MIAMI (Reuters) – Gilberto Martinez was almost penniless when he left Cuba in 2005 to start a new life in the United States.
Exclusive: U.S. reduces staff at embassy in Yemen amid unrest – official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has further reduced staff at its embassy in Yemen, U.S. officials said on Thursday amid escalating turmoil in the Arab country.
