Japan defense review expresses 'deep concern' at Chinese coercion

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's annual defense review on Tuesday expressed "deep concern" over what it sees as China's coercion as a more assertive Beijing flouts international rules when dealing with other nations.

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Venezuela election board okays opposition recall push first phase

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's election board said on Monday the opposition successfully collected 1 percent of voter signatures in every state in the first phase of their push for a referendum to recall socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

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Cuba says talks with U.S. over claims cannot be rushed

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba said on Monday it was not willing to rush talks with the United States over multibillion-dollar claims and counter-claims and would agree only to an accord that addressed the grievances of both sides.

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Yemen government leaves Kuwait talks after Houthis reject U.N. plan

DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemeni government negotiators said they were leaving peace talks in Kuwait on Monday after Houthi militia foes rejected a United Nations proposal aimed to ending their country's war.

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Turkey captures commandos who tried to seize Erdogan during coup bid

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish special forces captured a group of rebel commandos who tried to seize or kill President Tayyip Erdogan during a failed coup, and a government minister said plotters would "never see God's sun as long as they breathe".

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Russian helicopter downed in rebel-held Idlib province

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Russian military helicopter carrying five people was shot down in the north of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province on Monday, the Russian defence ministry said.

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Rebels launch major assault to try to break Aleppo siege

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebel fighters have launched a major assault on government-held southwestern parts of Aleppo to try to reopen supply lines after the army and its allies tightened their siege of opposition-held parts of the city last week.

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