Exclusive: British Navy warship sails near Beijing-claimed South China Sea islands – sources
A British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea as it headed toward Vietnam, asserting “freedom of navigation” rights and challenging Beijing’s “excessive claims” in the region, two sources said.
Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missile, 26 wounded by shrapnel
Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis in the southern city of Najran, wounding 26 people with shrapnel, Saudi civil defense said on Wednesday.
Factbox: Over 200 tweaks in India’s biggest tax reform create confusion
India introduced a new national Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July last year, aiming to unify its $2.6 trillion economy and 1.3 billion people into a single market for the first time.
India’s tax effect: Hundreds of thousands laid off despite growth
Tilak Raj Bathla’s tiny weaving factory is one of the few still humming on a once busy road in the northern Indian city of Panipat, known as the country’s “textile city”.
Japanese homes engulfed in landslide after powerful quake hits Hokkaido
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.7 on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido caused a landslide that engulfed houses early on Thursday, injuring and trapping a number of people and cutting power in several areas.
Bad weather caused Aeromexico crash in July, investigators say
An Aeromexico plane crash in July that injured dozens of people in northern Mexico was likely caused by bad weather, authorities investigating the accident said on Wednesday.
Israel closing embassy in Paraguay in response to return of mission to Tel Aviv
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of Israel’s embassy in Paraguay on Wednesday, hours after the Latin American nation’s new government announced it would move its embassy back to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem.
U.S. warns of regional crisis if Nicaragua unrest goes on
The United States on Wednesday called on Nicaragua to release all detained students and political prisoners, declaring the country’s five months of civil unrest a threat to the region’s security.
Syrian rebels hope Turkey can limit Russian-backed Idlib assault
Syrian rebels bracing for battle in northwest Syria are pinning their hopes on ally Turkey to intervene with Russia and prevent an all-out Syrian government offensive that could deal a final blow to their seven-year-long uprising.
Iran’s Zarif says Trump to ‘abuse’ U.N. Security Council role to slam Tehran
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday of planning to “abuse” the presidency of the U.N. Security Council to criticize Tehran, Washington’s arch-foe.
