Syrian force urges Raqqa jihadists to surrender by end-May
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian militias promised on Thursday that no harm would come to Islamic State fighters in Raqqa who turned themselves in by the end of the month, calling on them to lay down their arms ahead of an expected a…
Bahrain says five died during raid on Shi’ite Muslim leader’s hometown
DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain is investigating the death of five people during a raid on the home village of the spiritual leader of its Shi’ite Muslim community, the interior ministry said on Thursday.
Fighting corruption, Ukraine starts to judge its judges
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian judge Artur Yemelianov has acknowledged in an online declaration that he owns a Breguet watch worth nearly a third of his annual salary and keeps piles of cash.
South Korea’s new president draws ire of small businesses he’s vowed to help
SEOUL (Reuters) – Small businesses in South Korea fear their profits could be cut to the bone and some could be forced to close if the country’s new president pushes ahead with plans to raise minimum wages, restrict contract staff numbers and reduce wo…
China mulls plans to reform air space management: official
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese regulators will submit proposals to reform management of the country’s air space by the end of this month in a bid to ease flight delays and boost aviation growth, one of the country’s top air traffic control offici…
As Taliban gain and U.S. weighs troop hike, a widow’s plea to ‘finish the job’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On a cold morning in January, Alexandra McClintock shoved her bare hands into the pockets of her black jacket and gazed at the endless rows of graves in Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington D…
Taiwan same-sex marriage ruling brightens outlook for gay rights in China
BEIJING (Reuters) – Taiwan’s decision giving same-sex couples the right to marry has proved a shot in the arm for China’s gay rights movement, but it is likely to be many years before Beijing approves similar measures, amid deep-rooted opposition in so…
Manila deploys commandoes, helicopters to retake city from Islamists
MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – The Philippines mobilized attack helicopters and special forces to drive Islamic State-linked rebels out of a besieged southern city on Thursday, with six soldiers killed in street combat amid heavy resistance.
China says former Shanghai prosecutor suspected of bribe-taking
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The former top prosecutor in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai has been kicked out of the ruling Communist Party over a range of violations, the party said on Thursday, and a lawsuit for suspected bribe-taking will be launched….
‘Only logical’ for Trump to meet Dalai Lama: Tibetan leader
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of Tibet’s government in exile said on Wednesday it would be “logical” for Donald Trump to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, since the U.S. president has visited homes of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian…
