India moves to divide Jammu and Kashmir state despite protests, attacks
India will formally split up disputed Jammu and Kashmir state into two federal territories on Thursday, aiming to tighten its grip on the restive region that has been in the grip of a harsh security clampdown for nearly three months.
Swedes use ropes, towels to save Briton who lost foot to shark in Australia
A Swedish couple on holiday in Australia were hailed for saving a British man whose foot was bitten off and another who was injured in a shark attack off a popular tourist beach.
Iraqi prime minister’s main backers agree to oust him
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s two main backers have agreed to work to remove him from office as protests against his government gained momentum in Baghdad and much of the Shi’ite south only to be met with violence.
Lebanese army command calls on protesters to open roads
The Lebanese army command on Wednesday urged protesters to open blocked roads so that life could return to normal after 13 days of demonstrations that have paralyzed the country.
China cites ‘early harvest’ benefits in Guadalcanal deal
Chinese companies will build and control power and port facilities, roads, rail and bridges on Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, as part of an $825 million deal to revive an abandoned gold mine, according to new contract details.
Australia says it will hold China accountable on human rights
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Canberra will hold China to account on issues such as human rights, insisting that staying quiet on sensitive issues is not in Australia’s national interests.
China’s Hebei issues orange smog alert effective Nov. 1
China’s top steelmaking province of Hebei has issued an “orange” smog alert effective from Nov. 1, with pollution expected to be “severe”, the local environment bureau said on Wednesday.
Russia’s Putin, Hungary’s Orban to discuss TurkStream pipeline, nuclear energy
The TurkStream pipeline that would bring gas to Central Europe bypassing Ukraine and nuclear energy issues are expected to feature high on the agenda at a meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wed…
Five Colombian indigenous guards killed, possibly by rebel dissidents, military says
Five Colombian indigenous guards, tasked with protecting the country’s tribal reservations, were killed in a confrontation, possibly with dissident rebel fighters on Tuesday, the military said.
U.S. set to disappoint Asia with downgraded delegation for Bangkok summits
The United States has downgraded its participation in back-to-back Asia-Pacific summits in Bangkok next week, a move bound to disappoint Asian partners worried by China’s expanding influence.
