Hong Kong’s clouds of tear gas spark health panic
Hong Kong residents have become distracted this week by fears of dioxin poisoning, as worry grows about the effects of about 10,000 rounds of tear gas fired across the financial hub over more than five months of anti-government protests.
London’s Canary Wharf underground station reopens after dust incident
London’s Canary Wharf underground station reopened on Friday after an incident involving a faulty fan left dust on the platform, the city’s transport operator said.
Japan foreign minister says he plans to meet South Korean counterpart at G20
Japan’s foreign minister plans to meet his South Korean counterpart during the Group of 20 meetings in the central city of Nagoya, he said on Friday, after Seoul decided not to end an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.
Japan’s Abe says South Korea made strategic choice in keeping intelligence-sharing pact
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday said South Korea made a strategic choice in deciding to stick with an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan that it had earlier said it would withdraw from amid a spat over history and trade.
German ambassador says Turkey should explain charges against arrested lawyer
Germany’s ambassador to Turkey said the arrest of a Turkish lawyer hired by the German embassy is “incomprehensible” and he is pressing Ankara to clarify the charges, according to a statement seen by Reuters.
Iraq’s Sistani says electoral reforms only way to resolve crisis: representative
Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday called on politicians to hurry up in reforming electoral laws and said the changes would be the only way to resolve weeks of deadly unrest.
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz could quit European conservative bloc: Orban
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party may leave the European Union’s umbrella centre-right bloc after receiving mixed signals about its intentions following Fidesz’s suspension from the group, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
UAE in weapons making push as allies restrict sales
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making a push to develop high-tech military hardware that would give it control over critical defense capabilities and lessen reliance on imports.
South Korea suspends notice to Japan on ending intelligence pact: report
South Korea has suspended the effectiveness of its notice given to Japan on terminating an intelligence sharing agreement, Yonhap news reported on Friday quoting an unnamed key ruling party official.
Kazakhstan to host Syria talks on December 10-11
Kazakhstan will host a fresh round of Syria peace talks sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran on December 10-11, Kazakh foreign minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi told reporters on Friday.
