Britain’s May tackles education, appeals to Brexit voters
LONDON (Reuters) – Setting her sights on making Britain “the world’s great meritocracy”, Prime Minister Theresa May unveiled reforms to widen opportunity in schools on Friday in an appeal to “frustrated” Britons who voted to leave the EU.
Trapped, shaken Mont Blanc cable car passengers brought to safety
CHAMONIX, France (Reuters) – Thirty-three tourists who were trapped overnight in cable cars high above the glaciers of Mont Blanc were brought to safety on Friday morning after technicians repaired tangled cables, the operator said.
Colombians would vote in favor of peace in plebiscite – poll
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian voters will back a peace deal with Marxist FARC rebels in a plebiscite, according to an opinion poll released on Friday, in encouraging news for President Juan Manuel Santos, who wants the electorate to ratify the measure t…
Thailand names new army chief from outside dominant faction
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Friday endorsed a new army chief in an annual reshuffle, an appointment from outside the faction that has dominated the army for several years, surprising some experts.
Iraq expels Islamic State families from local communities
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi authorities are expelling the families of suspected Islamic State members from their homes as the jihadist group loses ground, raising fears of communal violence if people seek to settle old scores.
EU seeks to soothe Turkey ties, but no breakthrough on visa deal
ANKARA (Reuters) – Two of the European Union’s top officials sought to smooth fractious relations with Turkey on Friday, vowing deeper trade ties and continued cooperation on migration, but there was no immediate end to a deadlock over visa-free travel…
Mosul battle plans ready, could be concluded by year-end – Kurdish leader
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Military plans to retake Mosul from Islamic State are ready and the northern Iraqi city might be recaptured before the end of the year, the president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Friday.
Afghan forces encircled by Taliban in provincial capital, officials say
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – U.S. warplanes unleashed three strikes on Friday in Afghanistan’s province of Uruzgan, where Afghan security forces remained surrounded by Taliban fighters a day after having fought back a concerted push by the militan…
China marks Mao anniversary, but President Xi makes no mention
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese state media on Friday marked the 40th anniversary of the death of the founder of modern China, Mao Zedong, with articles praising him, but President Xi Jinping visited a school and did not mention the day.
Outside Havana, Cubans are still waiting for American visitors
HOLGUIN/SANTA CLARA, Cuba (Reuters) – U.S. visitors and their dollars are flooding into Havana as airlines and hotels take advantage of the thaw in relations between the Cold War antagonists, but in the provinces outside the Cuban capital, the promised…
