Taipei mayor to form political party in challenge to Taiwan president

The mayor of Taipei said on Thursday he will form a political party to run in Taiwan's 2020 elections, a move that could complicate President Tsai Ing-wen's re-election and shake up the political landscape amid heightened tension with China.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2LT2BMy

Trump discusses Siberian wildfires, trade in call with Russia's Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss wildfires in Siberia and trade between their two nations, the White House said.

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North Korean soldier defects after crossing DMZ, says South

The man was spotted overnight crossing the heavily guarded border zone and is in military custody.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2GF8c4R

Sign of the times: China's capital orders Arabic, Muslim symbols taken down

Authorities in the Chinese capital have ordered halal restaurants and food stalls to remove Arabic script and symbols associated with Islam from their signs, part of an expanding national effort to "Sinicize" its Muslim population.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2K7SJN3

Malaysian senator drops proposed anti-seduction law after backlash

A Malaysian senator on Thursday apologized after proposing a sexual harassment law to protect men from being "seduced" by women into committing sexual crimes.

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North Korean soldier defects across the DMZ, South Korea says

The South Korean military detained a North Korean soldier who crossed the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said on Thursday.

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U.S. officials play down North Korea missile tests, hold out for new talks

North Korea's latest missile launches did not violate a pledge its leader Kim Jong Un made to U.S. President Donald Trump, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday, but efforts to resume denuclearization talks remained in doubt.

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