Human Rights Watch declines Singapore’s invite to ‘fake news’ hearing
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch declined on Friday an invitation from Singapore to give evidence at a public hearing on “fake news”, saying the hearing was not a “true consultation” but a “media event”.
Two coalition personnel killed by explosive device in Syria
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two personnel with the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State were killed and five were wounded by an improvised explosive device in Syria, the coalition said on Friday.
Bulgaria says will not expel Russian diplomats over spy poisoning
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria will not expel Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in England that the British government has blamed on Moscow, its prime minister said on Friday.
Kosovo PM sacks security chief, interior minister over Turkish arrests
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj dismissed on Friday the interior minister and the secret service chief after the arrest and extradition to Turkey of six Turkish nationals.
Erdogan spokesman says expects Turkey’s allies to take clear anti-terrorism stance
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Friday Turkey expected its allies to take a clear stance against terrorism instead of taking steps that amount to legitimizing “terror structures”.
For one Catholic parish in China, division and confusion as historic deal looms
YINGTAN, China (Reuters) – Like many Chinese Catholics, Lin Jinqing was shocked when news trickled through to him of an impending deal between Beijing and the Vatican that would end a long dispute over control of the Church in China.
Campaigning begins for Mexico presidential vote
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Two of Mexico’s four presidential hopefuls began their campaigns on Friday, as the country looks set to reject the party that has governed for most of the past century over corruption scandals and favor a leftist dissenter.
Cambodian opposition mark attack anniversary with rare public display
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian opposition members lit candles and held prayers in Phnom Penh on Friday to mark the 21st anniversary of a deadly grenade attack – a rare public gathering since a government crackdown started last year.
As Afghan forces squeeze in Helmand, Taliban focus shifts
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Last week, the Afghan air force dropped its first laser-guided missile on a Taliban compound in Farah, the western Afghan province that has seen increasing fighting since the beginning of the year.
Executive at fire-ravaged Russian shopping mall arrested
KEMEROVO, Russia (Reuters) – Russian police on Friday arrested an executive with the firm that owns a shopping mall where a fire last weekend killed 64 people, most of them children.
