UK loathe to pressure China over Hong Kong because of trade: former governor
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is not putting enough pressure on China to stick to its side of an agreement on the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty because it is worried about damaging trade links, former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten said on Tuesday….
Romania’s Ponta eyes former PM Tariceanu as successor
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Tuesday he favored bringing back former premier Calin Tariceanu as his successor, should he become president after an election that heads to a run-off on Nov. 16.
Exclusive: Washington takes hands-off stance on future of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi
WASHINGTON/YANGON (Reuters) – Despite hailing Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as “an icon of democracy,” U.S. President Barack Obama is quietly acquiescing to the government’s decision to bar her from running for the presidency in next year’s election, U.S. officials say.
Lack of stability in Gaza risks return to war, says U.N.
GAZA (Reuters) – There is still not an effective or united Palestinian government in place in Gaza and unless stability is achieved rapidly, another conflict will engulf the territory, a senior United Nations official said on Tuesday.
Saudi forces kill suspect in attack on Shi’ites marking Ashoura
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi security forces on Tuesday shot dead a member of an armed group that killed five people in an overnight attack on Shi’ite Muslims marking an important religious anniversary, al-Arabiya television reported.
Israel, U.S. say it’s business as usual as warplane plant unveiled
LOD Israel (Reuters) – Israel and the United States used the inauguration of a joint warplane project on Tuesday to stress it was business as usual in an alliance hit by acrimony over Israeli settlement building and strategy against Iran.
Russians march in defiance of West and display of unity
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people marched through Moscow under flags and banners hailing Russia as a great power on Tuesday in an annual parade which this year amounted to a show of defiance to the West over Ukraine.
New Israeli law limits Palestinian prisoner releases
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament has passed a law aimed at limiting the practice employed in the past of releasing Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis to promote peace efforts.
Zambian minister reinstated as party chief after protests
LUSAKA (Reuters) – Zambia’s interim president Guy Scott reversed his dismissal of defense minister and presidential front-runner Edgar Lungu as the ruling party’s secretary-general on Tuesday after the sacking triggered protests.
Swiss shrink from radical limits on immigration in November vote
HORRENBACH-BUCHEN Switzerland (Reuters) – When 54-year-old Swiss politician Samuel Graber goes shopping, the sight of German rollmops and Polish sausage snatching shelf-space from more traditional fare like Emmental cheese is for him another sign that …
