World News

HELSINKI (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday he backed diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the Syrian civil war, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives over more than six years of conflict, as Islamic State militants near defeat. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2j4ysNa

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Monday criticized a visit by India's defense minister to the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims, saying it would complicate efforts by both sides to maintain peace along the disputed border region. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2hgaj5C

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles "out of the sky" if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed for doing so, suggesting Tokyo take a stance it has avoided until now. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2izyOrf

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Supreme Federal Court ruled on Monday that no region or province can secede, strengthening the government's hand as it seeks to prevent a repeat of September's Kurdish independence vote. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2h7Y2fZ

BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) - Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont was spared custody on Monday, when a Brussels court ruled he could remain at liberty in Belgium until it had heard Spanish allegations of rebellion against him. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2zjCc1v

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladeshi counter-terrorism police said on Monday they had arrested an Islamist militant wanted for the 2015 killing of a U.S. blogger critical of religious extremism. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2lUuzeS

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she was deeply troubled by a wave of allegations of sexual impropriety in parliament and victims of abuse needed to know that their complaints would be investigated properly. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2An1StZ

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman received former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in Riyadh on Monday following his resignation, Saudi media reported. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2y8Utgx

BEIJING (Reuters) - China urged France on Monday to take more effective measures to ensure the safety of its nationals visiting the country, after a group of 40 Chinese tourists was tear-gassed and robbed in Paris. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2izslwf

MADRID (Reuters) - Just one in seven people from Catalonia believe the current standoff between Barcelona and Madrid will end in independence for the region while more than two thirds think the process has been bad for the economy, a survey showed on Monday. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2Aoijqf

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman met former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported on Monday, without providing details. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2y6I6S7

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - An North Korean embassy official and a manager of Air Koryo, the national airline, met suspects wanted for the killing of Kim Jong Nam shortly after the murder, according to video recordings shown at the trial in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2AmXHOU

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Monday that political leaders had been responsive to calls for calm, strengthening security and national unity after the prime minister's shock resignation. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2j4eWQU