Afghan president expresses hope for peace deal with notorious warlord
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday a peace agreement with one of the country’s most notorious Islamist warlords is close to being concluded, offering hope of progress toward ending decades of conflict.
Bangladesh factory owner, others being probed as toll from fire rises
DHAKA (Reuters) – A police case has been filed against the owner of Tampaco Foils and several others working at the food and cigarette packaging plant near Dhaka as the death toll from a fire at the factory over the weekend rose to 31 on Monday.
Thai authorities downplay Zika risk, worried by tourism impact
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Health and city officials in Thailand downplayed risks from rising infections from the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to serious birth defects, and expressed concern that disclosing information would damage its tourism i…
Germany’s anti-immigrant AfD party suffers election setback in west
BERLIN (Reuters) – The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party finished a distant fourth with just 7.8 percent of the vote in local elections on Sunday in Lower Saxony state – a week after beating Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives in …
Bullets trump rehab as Asia quickens ‘failing’ war on drugs
BANGKOK/YANGON (Reuters) – The Philippines has launched a bloody “war on drugs” that has killed at least 2,400 people in just two months, while neighboring Indonesia has declared a “narcotics emergency” and resumed executing drug convicts after a long …
China says has tightened judicial procedures to protect rights
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has tightened judicial procedures against illegally obtained evidence and upheld the presumption of innocence, state media said on Monday, as the country seeks to combat perceptions of human rights violations within Communist …
Mexicans march against president’s proposal to allow gay marriage
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people across Mexico marched on Saturday to protest against gay marriage, challenging President Enrique Pena Nieto’s proposal to recognize same-sex marriage throughout the traditionally conservative country….
Eastern Libyan commander’s forces seize key oil ports
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Forces loyal to east Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on Sunday seized at least two key oil ports from a rival force loyal to the U.N.-backed government, risking a new conflict over the OPEC nation’s resources.
Amnesty condemns detention of Yazidi woman in Iraqi Kurdistan
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Rights group Amnesty International called on Monday for the release of a Yazidi woman detained by Iraqi Kurdish authorities for nearly two years following her escape from Islamic State enslavement.
With eye on West, Belarus holds slightly freer election
MINSK (Reuters) – Lawmakers loyal to hardline Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko retained power in an election on Sunday, but the opposition’s win of a seat for the first time in 20 years could help the ex-Soviet nation further improve ties wit…
