China’s Xi urges Japan to face history on anniversary of surrender
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Japan to learn from its past military aggression on Wednesday, as China commemorated Japan’s World War Two surrender on a newly appointed Victory Day amid tense ties between the two Asian giants.
Israel shows evidence of rocket fire from Gaza schools
TEL AVIV (Reuters) – The Israeli military has provided its most detailed assessment yet of the conduct and impact of the Gaza war, including photographs indicating that militants stored and fired rockets from schools and a breakdown of the toll inflict…
UK says not ruling out airstrikes against Islamic State, says hostage video genuine
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s foreign minister said on Wednesday Islamic State’s seizure of a British hostage did not make airstrikes on the militants more likely, but said he wasn’t ruling that option out.
Bosnian police detain 16 for involvement in Syria, Iraq conflict
SARAJEVO (Reuters) – Bosnian police detained 16 people on Wednesday on charges of financing terrorist activities, recruiting and fighting for radical groups in Syria and Iraq, authorities said.
Nigeria’s Bama still in state control after Islamist assault: government
MAIDUGURI (Reuters) – The Nigerian town of Bama remains under government control after an assault by Boko Haram, the Borno state government and local vigilante groups said on Wednesday, contradicting reports that the Islamist group had seized much of i…
Obama says all NATO members need to do fair share of defense spending
TALLINN (Reuters) – European members of NATO need to do their fair share of defense spending to bolster the alliance, U.S. President Obama told a news conference in Tallinn on Wednesday, a day before the start of a NATO summit.
Afghan election contenders in last-ditch bid to rescue power-sharing deal
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s rival presidential campaigns were holding last-ditch talks on Wednesday to rescue a deal on a national government after a disputed election raised fears of exacerbating ethnic divisions.
Japan PM Abe appoints China-friendly lawmakers to key posts
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe picked two veteran lawmakers with friendly ties to China for top party posts on Wednesday in an apparent signal of hope for a thaw in chilly ties with Beijing and a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinp…
Thai junta may lift martial law in tourist areas
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military government is considering lifting martial law in some provinces, particularly in those that attract a lot of tourists, a junta spokesman said on Wednesday.
First post-97 Chinese leader, last governor make pleas for Hong Kong
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s first Chinese leader after the end of British rule appealed to all sides in the democracy dispute to work together on Wednesday as the last colonial governor said China must stand by its promises.
