Israel, Palestinians dispute format of Washington peace talks
JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli and Palestinian officials put forward clashing formats for peace talks due to resume in Washington on Monday for the first time in nearly three years after intense U.S. mediation.
Japan may resume GMO-hit U.S. wheat buys this week: sources
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan could resume buying U.S. western white wheat as early as this week, industry sources said, after adopting stricter measures designed to detect genetically modified strains of the grain used for confectionary flour.
Taiwan names new fin regulator, defense minister in reshuffle
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s top financial regulator and its defense minister have stepped down, the premier said on Monday, as part of a reshuffle that analysts say is aimed at boosting President Ma Ying-jeou’s increasingly poor popularity ratings.
Spain to mourn train crash victims; driver freed pending trial
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain (Reuters) – Spain was to hold a memorial service on Monday for the 79 people who died in the country’s worst rail disaster in decades, hours after the driver of the train was freed pending trial on charges of reckless homi…
Myanmar’s president wants ex-governor back to head central bank
YANGON (Reuters) – President Thein Sein has proposed that a former head of the central bank of Myanmar be brought back as governor as part of reforms that will make it independent from the Ministry of Finance, a source at the president’s office said on…
Japan’s top diplomat heads for China, seeking better ties
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki will visit China on Monday and Tuesday for talks with senior officials, the latest in a series of efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to improve relations soured by a bitter territorial ro…
Taiwan defense minister to step down as part of reshuffle
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s government said on Monday the defense minister will step down amid a public outcry over the death of a soldier, in a bid, according to analysts, by President Ma Ying-jeou to boost his increasingly poor popularity ratings.
Japan says no schedule set for Japan-China summit
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that no schedule had been set for a Japan-China leaders’ summit, but repeated that bilateral ties were important and Japan’s door was open for dialogue.
Japan’s top diplomat heads for China seeking better ties
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki will visit China on Monday and Tuesday for talks with senior officials, the latest in a series of efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to improve relations soured by a bitter territorial ro…
Northern Ireland struggles to heal deep fracture
BELFAST (Reuters) – When U.S. President Barack Obama visited Northern Ireland before the G8 summit in June, he hailed its extraordinary progress in the 15 years since a peace agreement to end three decades of what locals call “The Troubles”.
