Pentagon chief visits Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw from Syria
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, where he is likely to face questions about how long U.S. troops withdrawing from northeast Syria will stay in Iraq.
China’s CCTV shuns NBA season opening games following Hong Kong tweet row
Chinese state television did not air the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) season opening games, underscoring the damage on the U.S. league’s business in the country following a Houston Rockets executive’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters.
Bolivian protesters flood capital as Morales whisker away from outright victory
Bolivians furious over what they saw as an attempt by leftist President Evo Morales to rig Sunday’s election protested outside the hotel in the capital city of La Paz where the country’s electoral board was processing remaining ballots on Tuesday.
Afghan rivals to meet in China after U.S. talks stall
China is organizing talks among Afghanistan’s rival factions as part of efforts to end years of war after negotiations between the Taliban and the United States on the withdrawal of U.S. forces broke down, Afghan officials said on Wednesday.
Burundi security forces kill 14 armed men plotting attack
Security forces in Burundi have killed at least 14 armed men who had intended to launch an attack in the northwestern province of Bubanza, police and residents said.
Hong Kong says Taiwan obstructing murder suspect case for political reasons
Taiwan authorities are obstructing the case of a murder suspect whose case led to mass street protests in Hong Kong, a Hong Kong government official said on Wednesday.
Factbox: Key economic appointments in Indonesia’s new cabinet
Indonesian President Joko Widodo unveiled his cabinet for a second term on Wednesday, retaining Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the core of his economic team but also bringing in some new faces.
Chile’s Pinera seeks forgiveness from hard-pressed citizens, offers rescue package
Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera announced an ambitious raft of measures on Tuesday, aiming to quell protests against his government with a guaranteed minimum wage, a hike in the state pension offering and the stabilization of electricity costs.
Indonesia cabinet unveiled, includes president’s main rival
Indonesian President Joko Widodo unveiled his cabinet for a second term on Wednesday, retaining former World Bank economist Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister and tapping the leader of the opposition as he seeks to push through reforms.
Malaysia, Goldman discuss smaller penalty over 1MDB scandal: Bloomberg
Malaysia has discussed a $2 billion to $3 billion settlement with Goldman Sachs over the U.S. bank’s alleged role in the 1MDB scandal, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, less than half the sum the Southeast Asian nation had demanded earlier.
