China Communist Party expels military firm executive in war on graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former senior executive at a Chinese state-owned military giant has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party for taking bribes and other “massive” corruption, the top anti-corruption watchdog said on Tuesday.
India says hopes to sign WTO ‘accession protocol’
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India hopes to sign an “accession protocol” key to the implementation of a global trade pact by a July 31 deadline, a top government official said on Tuesday, clarifying New Delhi’s stand after the government earlier threatened to…
In disputed sea, Vietnam and China play high-stakes cat and mouse
NEAR RIG HD-981 South China Sea (Reuters) – – Crewmen in blue camouflage uniforms pour out onto the deck of a Vietnamese coastguard ship as an imposing Chinese vessel guarding a giant oil rig gives chase, gathering steam by the second.
Hong Kong’s leader says Chinese rules to prevail in 2017 vote
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s leader told Beijing on Tuesday that the city’s residents wanted a full election in 2017, but said the financial hub would have to abide by the restrictive framework set down by China’s Communist authorities.
EU’s Juncker wins approval with ‘grand coalition’ program
STRASBOURG France (Reuters) – Jean-Claude Juncker won broad endorsement from the European Parliament on Tuesday to be the next head of the executive European Commission after setting out a “grand coalition” investment programme to help revive Europe’s …
Kerry says Libya violence is dangerous, U.S. working to end it
VIENNA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday warned that the escalating violence by Libyan militias was alarming and said Washington was working through its envoys to restore peace to the North African nation.
Anticipating a Jokowi win in Indonesia, rivals consider switching sides
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s likely next leader Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may find a friendlier parliament to help push through a reform agenda in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, as several members of the second-largest party consider joining his camp….
Engineers attach final tow chains to Costa Concordia wreck
ROME (Reuters) – Engineers were securing the final chains to the Costa Concordia on Tuesday, preparing the wrecked luxury liner to be towed away from the Italian island where it sank two and half years ago, killing 32 people.
Surviving children of South Korea ferry disaster march to pursue full inquiry
SEOUL (Reuters) – Teenage survivors of South Korea’s worst maritime disaster in 20 years, many wearing yellow bracelets, walked out of classrooms on Tuesday and marched on parliament to demand enabling legislation for a inquiry into the more than 300 d…
Iran’s Zarif says held “good” talks with Kerry: IRNA
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday he had held good talks with his U.S. counterpart over Tehran’s nuclear programme, with less than a week to go before a July 20 deadline on reaching an agreement on ending …
