China defies U.S. call to stop island project in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Monday hit back at “irresponsible remarks” from the United States which has called on Beijing to stop a land reclamation project in the disputed South China Sea that could be large enough to accommodate an airstrip.
British banker’s murder trial in Hong Kong adjourned until July
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A court in Hong Kong on Monday adjourned the trial of a 29-year-old British banker charged with killing two women until July because of the length of time needed for prosecutors to prepare their case.
Iran and powers set to extend nuclear talks if final push fails
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran and six world powers looked set to miss Monday’s deadline for resolving a 12-year stand-off over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and are already looking at a possible extension of the negotiations.
Bangladesh ex-ruling party leader gets death for war crimes
DHAKA (Reuters) – A former leader of Bangladesh’s ruling party was sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal on Monday in connection with atrocities committed during the country’s war of independence from Pakistan.
Philippines fines Chinese fishermen $102,000 each for poaching
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (Reuters) – A Philippine court on Monday fined nine Chinese fishermen $102,000 each after they were caught with hundreds of sea turtles in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea amid a festering territorial standoff betwee…
Russia puts losses at up to $140 billion from Western sanctions, oil price fall: minister
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is suffering losses at a rate of about $40 billion per year because of Western sanctions and $90-100 billion from the drop in the oil price, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Monday.
Multi-national crew reaches space station
(Reuters) – A Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazahkstan on Sunday to deliver three new crew members to the International Space Station, including Italy’s first female astronaut.
Mexico summons Uruguay ambassador over president’s comments on missing students
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico said on Sunday it was summoning Uruguay’s ambassador after Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said that the disappearance of 43 students in southwest Mexico suggests the country is a failed state.
Afghan women excluded from peace talks with Taliban: aid agency
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan women are excluded from efforts to negotiate peace with the Taliban and hard-won rights could be bargained away unless more is done to include them in the process, aid agency Oxfam said in a report on Monday.
Low voter turnout could erode Japan PM Abe’s call for fresh mandate
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese voters, puzzled as to why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling an election now and unimpressed by opposition alternatives, may shun a Dec. 14 election in record numbers.
