Putin seeks 'compromise,' not 'trade' in Japan isle dispute

TOKYO (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin has said Russia is willing to compromise on a territorial dispute that has bedevilled relations with Japan for eight decades, but said this would not include the trade or sale of the islands held by Moscow and claimed by Tokyo.

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China says developing new type of long-range bomber

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is developing a new long-range bomber, the head of the Chinese air force was quoted as saying in state media on Friday, the latest move in its ambitious military modernization program.

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U.S. imposes sanctions on 'Putin's bridge' to Crimea

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Companies building a multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with annexed Crimea, a project close to the heart President Vladimir Putin, were targeted by the United States in an updated sanctions blacklist on Thursday.

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After sweeping into northern Syria, Turkey faces hard choices

JARABLUS, Syria (Reuters) - Flashing victory signs and firing in the air, the young rebels who took this Syrian town from Islamic State a week ago may be jubilant, but their ability to hold territory will hinge on Turkey's appetite for keeping its forces inside Syria.

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U.S., others agreed 'secret' exemptions for Iran after nuclear deal: think tank

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its negotiating partners agreed "in secret" to allow Iran to evade some restrictions in last year's landmark nuclear agreement in order to meet the deadline for it to start getting relief from economic sanctions, according to a think tank report published on Thursday.

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Venezuelan opposition floods Caracas in vast anti-Maduro protest

CARACAS (Reuters) - Dressed in white and chanting "this government will fall," hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters flooded Venezuela's capital on Thursday to press for an end to President Nicolas Maduro's rule.

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Heavy air strikes target rebel-held areas in western Syria

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Heavy air strikes targeted areas of Hama province captured by Syrian insurgents from government forces in recent days, as Damascus counter-attacked on Thursday in an area of strategic importance to President Bashar al-Assad.

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