Damascus won’t let ‘enemies’ benefit from de-escalation zones-minister
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian government will not allow its enemies to benefit from the creation of de-escalation zones in western Syria, the Syrian deputy foreign minister has said, ahead of international talks on the zones scheduled for early July in…
China slashes murder sentence in loan-shark killing case
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court rescinded on Friday a life sentence handed to man who killed a loan shark who had sexually taunted his mother, in a case that has made national headlines and ignited heated online debate.
South Korea says engagement with North possible only with strength
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Friday engagement with North Korea would only be possible when the South has the security ability to overwhelm the North, the presidential office said in a media briefing.
Russian navy launched missile strikes on IS target in Syria: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian naval vessels launched missile strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria’s Hama province, destroying command points and weapon and ammunition stores, RIA news agency cited the Russian defense ministry as saying on Friday.
Rescuers made ‘scapegoat’ for Italian frustration with migrant crisis
ABOARD THE AQUARIUS RESCUE SHIP (Reuters) – Anne Marie Loof has devoted her life to humanitarian work but says she understands why some Italians have started painting people like her as villains.
Arab states issue ultimatum to Qatar: close Jazeera, curb ties with Iran
DUBAI/DOHA (Reuters) – Four Arab states that imposed a boycott on Qatar have issued an ultimatum to Doha to close Al Jazeera television, curb ties with Iran, shut a Turkish base and pay reparations, demands so far reaching it would appear to be hard fo…
Separate blasts kill 40 in Pakistan: police
QUETTA/PARACHINAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Bombs killed at least 40 people in Pakistan on Friday, with a suicide car bomber killing 13 in the southwestern city of Quetta, and two blasts later claiming at least 27 lives in the northwestern town of Parachin…
Pakistan says Indian man admits spying, India dismisses it as farce
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian citizen sentenced to death for spying in Pakistan has admitted espionage and filed a mercy petition with the chief of army staff, the Pakistan military said on Thursday, a statement India dismissed as a farce.
The Mautes of the Philippines: from monied family to Islamic State
MANILA/MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – Before they formed one of the most dreaded militant groups in the Philippines and pledged loyalty to Islamic State, the Mautes were a wealthy, political family in the southern region of Mindanao, largely infl…
Peru’s president eyes pardon for Fujimori after political blow
LIMA (Reuters) – Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Thursday that it was time to evaluate pardoning the country’s imprisoned former leader Alberto Fujimori, an apparent bid to placate the powerful opposition party led by Fujimori’s daughter…
