Shi’ite rivalry paralyses Iraq’s government
A growing rivalry between two powerful Shi’ite Muslim factions has paralyzed efforts to form a government in Iraq six months after an election aimed at steering the country toward recovery from years of war.
Bruguera and other Cuban artists detained ahead of protest over decree
Tania Bruguera and several other Cuban artists were detained in Havana on Monday after trying to stage a protest against a new decree that they fear will hamper creativity and increase censorship of Cuban culture.
Indonesia says Papua separatists suspected of killing at least 24 workers
Security forces in Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua are hunting for a separatist group suspected of killing at least 24 construction workers building a bridge in a remote district, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.
Officials say boat carrying Rohingya Muslims lands in Indonesia
Indonesian authorities said a boat carrying 20 men believed to be Rohingya Muslims landed on the northeastern shore of Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Tuesday.
Putin to meet Venezuela’s Maduro in Moscow on Wednesday: Ifax
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow on Wednesday, Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday.
Vietnam launches crooked cop hotline amid corruption crackdown
Vietnam has set up a telephone hotline for people to report accusations of police corruption, state media said on Tuesday, amid a crackdown on graft in the Southeast Asian country that has jailed dozens of officials.
Israel military says to expose Hezbollah attack tunnels from Lebanon
Israel’s military said on Tuesday it had begun an operation to “expose and thwart” cross-border attack tunnels from Lebanon dug by the Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah.
Venezuela’s Maduro says on his way to Russia to meet with Putin
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said late on Monday he was on his way to Russia to meet with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Cambodia eases pressure on opposition, media after EU sanctions threat
Cambodia’s parliament is reviewing a five-year ban on more than 100 members of the main opposition party, which could allow them to return to politics, following threats by the European Union to deny duty-free trading access to the Southeast Asian nati…
NZ ramps up diplomatic presence in Pacific where China influence rising
New Zealand will send 14 new diplomats to the Pacific region next year, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday, the latest move by Western governments to counter China’s growing influence in the strategic region.
