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…
Taliban bombs kill at least 10 police in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – Bombs exploded in three cities in Afghanistan on Monday killing at least 10 policemen, officials said, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself in Kabul’s police headquarters killing one person.
China, Vietnam willing to handle maritime issues through dialogue
BEIJING (Reuters) – China and Vietnam have agreed to handle maritime disputes through dialogue, Chinese state media reported on Monday, months after ties between the two countries hit a three-decade low in a row over a Chinese oil rig in disputed water…
Egyptian militant group pledges loyalty to Islamic State in audio clip
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s most active militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, has sworn allegiance to Islamic State, the al Qaeda offshoot which has seized territory in Syria and Iraq, according to an audio clip posted on its Twitter account.
British banker’s murder trial in HK adjourned to allow psychiatric reports
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 later this month to allow for the suspect to undergo a psychiatric assessment.
China, South Korea ‘effectively’ conclude free trade deal
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese and South Korean leaders said on Monday the two countries have “effectively” concluded a free trade agreement that will remove or sharply reduce barriers to trade and investment between the two trading giants.
