Iraq refuses talks with Kurdistan about independence referendum results

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The Iraqi government will not hold talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about the results of the "unconstitutional" referendum on independence held on Monday in northern Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.

U.S. Navy Pacific commander misses promotion, to retire after deadly collisions

TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Scott Swift said he will retire after being passed over for promotion to the chief of all military forces in the region in the wake of two deadly collisions involving U.S. warships.

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Canada's Lucara sells world's largest uncut diamond for $53 million

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – A tennis ball-sized rough diamond unearthed nearly two years ago by Canada's Lucara Diamond Corp has been sold for $53 million (39.36 million pounds), the Vancouver-based company said on Monday.

Brazil house speaker says Temer charges must be taken together

BRASILIA (Reuters) – The speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress, Rodrigo Maia, said on Monday that two new charges against President Michel Temer in a corruption case should be considered together when they reach the floor of the chamber on Tuesday.

European ambassadors to U.S. back Iran nuclear pact

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The ambassadors to Washington from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union all strongly backed the international nuclear agreement with Iran on Monday, as long as Tehran continues to comply with the pact.

U.S. citizen detained in Yemeni capital Sanaa – colleagues

DUBAI (Reuters) – Yemen's Houthi forces have detained a U.S. citizen in the capital Sanaa for reasons that were not immediately clear, two colleagues of the man said on Monday.

Venezuela slams U.S. travel restrictions as 'political terrorism'

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela on Monday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of conducting "political terrorism" through travel restrictions on eight countries including the socialist-run South American nation, which is already at loggerheads with Washington.

U.S.- backed alliance says Russian jets struck its fighters in east Syria

BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Syrian militias said Russian warplanes struck their positions in Deir al-Zor province on Monday, which Moscow denied, generating friction between two rival campaigns against Islamic State.

Nazir: Launderette 'misrepresenting Islam'

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Nazir Razak says the "Muslim only" policy adopted by a self-service launderette in Muar, Johor is "a misinterpretation of Islamic teaching".

Austria's far right gives two cheers for German sister party's success

VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria's anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO), seeking to soften its image before Austrians go to the polls next month, offered only lukewarm praise on Monday for a record election showing by its sister party in neighbouring Germany.

Brooking no dissent, Marine Le Pen takes grip on French far-right

PARIS (Reuters) – Marine Le Pen has acted to reassert her authority over France's far-right National Front with the forced departure of her deputy, but still faces a struggle to persuade the party base that she has what it takes to win an election.

Naked man found dead roadside with trousers nearby

BANGKOK: An unidentified man wearing no clothes was found dead in the ditch in the middle of a road in Kamphaeng Phet’s Mueang district on Monday.

U.N. seeks increase in aid for Rohingya; Myanmar hunts for bodies

DHAKA (Reuters) – Muslim refugees seeking shelter in Bangladesh from "unimaginable horrors" in Myanmar face enormous hardship and risk a dramatic deterioration in circumstances unless aid is stepped up, the head of the U.N. refugee agency said on Monday.

Russian occupation of Crimea marked by grave human rights violations – U.N.

GENEVA (Reuters) – Russia is committing "grave" human rights violations in Crimea, including its imposition of citizenship and by deporting prisoners, a U.N. human rights report said on Monday.

Japan's Abe announces snap election amid worries over North Korea crisis

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would dissolve parliament's lower house on Thursday for a snap election, as he seeks a fresh mandate to overcome "a national crisis".

Iraqi Kurds shrug off threats to stage independence referendum

ERBIL/SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (Reuters) – Voting began in northern Iraq on Monday in an independence referendum organised by Kurdish authorities, ignoring pressure from Baghdad, threats from neighbouring Turkey and Iran, and international warnings it may ignite yet more regional conflict.

A-G's Chambers receives report on tahfiz fire

KUALA TERENGGANU: The police have sent their report on the fire that claimed 23 lives at a religious residential school here to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

French unions block fuel depots in protest against labour reforms

PARIS (Reuters) – French trade unionists blocked access on Monday to several fuel depots in protest against an overhaul of employment laws, seeking to test the government's will to reform the economy.

Pakistani asylum seeker goes missing

KLANG: When Ata ul Mohsin and his family came to Malaysia last year to apply for asylum at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur, they believed their troubles were over.