Japan PM Abe’s approval rating sags amid talk of snap election
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s approval rating fell in a public opinion poll published on Monday amid speculation the government is considering calling a snap election.
Court to give verdict in case of doomed South Korea ferry
GWANGJU South Korea (Reuters) – A South Korean court is set to rule on whether the captain of a ferry that capsized killing more than 300 people, most of them children on a school trip, should be put to death for culpable homicide in a case that trigge…
UK’s Cameron says backs united Spain after symbolic Catalan vote
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain wants Spain to stay united and any referendum to decide whether Catalonia becomes independent should be done through the proper constitutional framework, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday.
Thailand to push back more than 200 boat people: police
BANGKOK (Reuters) – More than 200 boat people held in southern Thailand will be pushed back out to sea, police said on Monday, despite calls by rights group to stop a policy that puts would-be asylum seekers at risk.
Romanian foreign minister resigns in election row
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean resigned on Monday, a day after thousands of people rallied in support of compatriots abroad who were turned away as they tried to vote in the first round of a presidential election.
North Korea nuclear issue not raised in prisoner release visit: Obama
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States did not raise North Korea’s banned nuclear program during the visit by a senior U.S. official to secure the release of two American prisoners, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday.
Iran, West hold unscheduled second day of nuclear talks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran, the United States and the European Union began an unscheduled second day of talks on Monday over disagreements blocking the resolution of a confrontation over Tehran’s nuclear programme, U.S. and Iranian officials said.
Former Hong Kong leader warns lawmakers against anti-Beijing vote
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s first chief executive after its return to Chinese rule in 1997 warned city lawmakers on Monday not to try to vote down Beijing’s plan to screen candidates for the city’s next leader, broadcaster RTHK reported.
Obama says momentum building on ‘historic’ trans-Pacific trade deal
BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday he sees momentum building for a Washington-backed free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific, after arriving in Beijing on the first leg of an eight-day Asia tour.
Worst east Ukraine shelling for month; ceasefire looks in doubt
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – East Ukraine’s rebel stronghold Donetsk was pummeled on Sunday by the heaviest shelling in a month, and the OSCE said it spotted an armored column of troops without insignia in rebel territory that Kiev said proved Moscow ha…
