Tanzania threatens to de-register churches who rap president from pulpit
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzania has threatened to revoke the registration of religious organizations that “mix religion and politics” after a cleric criticized President John Magufuli’s leadership in a Christmas sermon. Opposition leaders in Tanzania say tolerance for dissent has been rapidly disappearing since Magufuli took office in late 2015 with pledges to reform East Africa’s third-biggest economy and crack down on large-scale corruption. Tanzania’s constitution protects freedom o
Turkey, Russia sign deal on supply of S-400 missiles: media
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Russia have signed an accord regarding the supply of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles to Turkey, CNN Turk and other media reported on Friday, finalising a deal the two countries have been working on for more than a ye…
India rooftop restaurant fire kills 14 during birthday party
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Fire swept through a rooftop restaurant in the Indian financial hub of Mumbai early on Friday, killing at least 14 people, most of them women attending a birthday party, including the celebrant who had just turned 28, police and fami…
South Africa’s top court rules parliament failed to hold Zuma to account over scandal
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that parliament had failed to hold President Jacob Zuma to account over a scandal related to state-funded upgrades to his home, and must launch proceedings that could remove h…
Norway says made ‘good progress’ in China trade talks
OSLO (Reuters) – Norway and China made “good progress” in a recent round of negotiations over a planned free trade agreement in Beijing, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries said in a statement on Friday.
Taiwan president warns China against military aggression
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday China’s military ambitions are becoming more apparent and tension between Taiwan and the mainland must not be resolved through military force.
Special Report: In a hospital ward in Yemen, the collapse of a nation
ADEN (Reuters) – Nahla Arishi, chief pediatrician at the al-Sadaqa hospital in this Yemeni port city, had not seen diphtheria in her 20-year career. Then, late last month, a three-year-old girl with high fever was rushed to Arishi’s ward. Her neck was …
After Trump criticism, China says no illicit oil sales to North Korea
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation.
India’s federal auditor slams Modi’s slow Ganges clean-up
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India has spent less than a quarter of the funds available for a program to clean up the Ganges river over the last two years, a federal audit has found, citing lapses in planning and financial management of a flagship scheme.
Taiwan president says island’s defense budget to grow, given China pressures
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday China’s military ambitions are becoming more apparent and that the island’s defense budget would “grow steadily” each year.
