U.S. says hopes China, Japan push diplomacy on isles spat
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States hopes that tentative diplomatic engagement between China and Japan amid their dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea is successful as escalation is in nobody’s interest, a senior U.S. diplomat said o…
Malaysian PM Najib entrenches race-based policies
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak announced steps on Saturday to further boost the economic participation of the ethnic Malay majority, entrenching race-based policies seen as shoring up Malay support ahead of a key ruling …
Austrian far-right party must repay funds: court
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s far-right BZO party must repay nearly 1 million euros ($1.33 million) it got in illicit financing from Telekom Austria officials, a Vienna court ruled while convicting four people in the influence-peddling case.
Police clash with protestors in Mexico City, 31 people arrested
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in the main square of Mexico City on Friday, arresting 31 people, as the government took control of the historic center after weeks of protests by teachers.
Colombia sets tribunal to end Drummond strike
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s Labor Ministry said on Friday it was calling an arbitration tribunal after 52 days of strike action by workers at the local operations of U.S.-based coal miner Drummond, a decision it said should end the dispute.
Syrian opposition to choose PM in push for credibility
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Syrian opposition coalition will appoint a provisional prime minister on Saturday to raise its international credibility as high-stakes diplomacy plays out between Washington and Moscow to resolve Syria’s two and a half year ci…
U.S. officials: Use of force not expected in U.N. resolution on Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States does not expect a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons to include a potential use of military force due to Russian opposition, senior Obama administration officials said on Friday.
U.S. officials: Use of force not expected in U.N. resolution on Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States does not expect a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons to include a potential use of military force due to Russian opposition, senior Obama administration officials said on Friday.
U.S. and Russia at a ‘pivotal point’ in Syria talks
GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-Russian talks on eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons program have reached a “pivotal point,” a U.S. official said, and both nations said on Friday they wanted to renew efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the war in Sy…
Dozens dead in fire at Russian psychiatric hospital
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A fire killed 37 people in a Russian psychiatric hospital on Friday, the second deadly blaze at such a facility this year, heightening concerns about Russia’s treatment of the mentally ill and other vulnerable wards of the state.
