World powers call for calm as India and Pakistan trade fire in Kashmir
NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR – Indian and Pakistani troops have traded fire briefly along the contested border in Kashmir, a day after the two nuclear powers both downed enemy jets, with Pakistan…
Nicaragua releases 100 prisoners, national dialogue starts
MANAGUA – The Nicaraguan government has released 100 people the opposition considers political prisoners, just as government and opposition leaders restarted talks aimed at ending a national crisis. Pablo Cuevas,…
Italy’s Venice to charge admission fees for tourists
VENICE – Venice council has voted to impose an entrance fee on day-trippers to help pay for the upkeep of the much-visited lagoon city, setting a precedent that other tourist…
France’s Macron says Britain would have to justify delaying Brexit
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the European Union would only agree to extend the Brexit deadline beyond March 29 if Britain justified a delay with…
Malaysia seizes 3,300 rare turtles in suspected trafficking case
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian authorities have seized about 3,300 rare pig-nosed turtles suspected of being smuggled into the Southeast Asian country. The turtles, found in Australia and on the Indonesian…
Thai party leader’s criminal case to be decided after election – prosecutors
BANGKOK – Thai prosecutors say they will decide after a March 24 election whether to pursue criminal charges against the leader of a new political party who criticised the military…
China says Taiwan opposition’s peace proposal must include push for ‘reunification’
BEIJING – Any proposals from self-ruled Taiwan for a peace deal with China must include a push for “reunification”, Beijing has said, after the island’s main opposition party said it…
Half of N.Korea defectors suffered violence, but rights not a top summit issue
SEOUL – About half of 451 North Korean defectors questioned in a survey endured physical violence at the hands of North Korean authorities, a rights group has said, as leader…
US Navy ships pass through strategic Taiwan Strait, riling China
WASHINGTON – The United States sent two Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait on Monday as the US military increased the frequency of movement through the strategic waterway despite opposition…
Venezuela’s Guaido faces credible threats to his life: Lima Group
BOGOTA – The Lima Group regional bloc says that threats have been made against the life of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and the group finds them credible, adding that President…
