In battered town seized from IS, Iraq’s Yazidis dream of return
BASHIQA, Iraq (Reuters) – For the first time since Islamic State militants swept into Bashiqa two years ago forcing him to flee, 61-year-old Barakat has finally found work – on Sunday he will be coming back to help clear debris from the destruction wro…
Storm lashes New Zealand quake zone, more buildings evacuated
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters) – Rain and strong winds battered central New Zealand on Thursday, threatening further damage just days after a powerful earthquake killed two people and devastated parts of the country’s South Island with huge landsl…
Trump’s golf buddy Norman pitches Australia to lead diplomatic line
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull became one of the first world leaders to speak to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump this week, but only after one of Trump’s old golfing buddies was asked to chip in.
Vietnam PM backs off from U.S-led TPP, emphasizes independent foreign policy
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam will shelve ratification of a U.S.-led Pacific trade accord due to political changes ahead in the United States, but wants to maintain good relations with Washington as much as it does all other countries, its prime minister s…
Testing times as South Korean students sit for college exam
SEOUL (Reuters) – Financial markets stayed closed and aircraft grounded as students in South Korea sat down on Thursday morning for the annual college entrance exam that could make or break their careers.
China, U.S. must avoid excessive mutual suspicion: Chinese envoy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China and the United States must avoid being overly suspicious of each other’s strategic intentions, China’s ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday while looking ahead to the Presidency of Donald Trump.
Ecuador says Sweden should promise Assange will not be extradited
QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador said on Wednesday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should receive guarantees that he will not be extradited if he faces justice in Sweden after four years of living in the South American nation’s embassy in London.
Iraqi militia threatens Islamic State’s supply route to Syria
BAGHDAD/BASHIQA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi Shi’ite militias said on Wednesday they had driven Islamic State fighters from an air base west of Mosul, a victory which would threaten the Sunni group’s supply route from Syria to its last major stronghold in I…
Escaped Chibok girls overcome doubts and jealousy to attend university
ABUJA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When a colleague asked Margee Ensign to help her sister who had been snatched by Boko Haram from her school dormitory in Chibok and escaped, the president of the American University of Nigeria could not refuse.
Modi’s cash crackdown hits Indian rivals’ election campaign coffers
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shock ban on high-value banknotes will hit the war chests of his rivals before a key state election next year, sparking accusations that his strike against “black cash” will unfairly boost his…
