Fire hits 28-floor Abu Dhabi tower under construction
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Fire swept through a 28-storey skyscraper under construction in central Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the latest in a series of at least five blazes to hit tall buildings in the United Arab Emirates over the last 18 months.
U.N. rights office urges French towns to repeal burkini bans
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations human rights office has called on French beach resorts to lift their bans on the burkini, calling them a “stupid reaction” that did not improve security but fueled religious intolerance.
France’s Hollande says real risk of escalation in Ukraine
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande warned on Tuesday that tensions in Ukraine had worsened in recent months and were at risk of further deteriorating.
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi to hold major peace summit with ethnic rebels
NAYPYITAW/YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi is launching a major push to end decades of fighting between rebels and the military, with many of the country’s myriad armed groups gathering for a peace conference in the capital Naypyitaw.
Libyan forces say Islamic State beaten back in Sirte
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan forces said they captured a residential neighborhood in central Sirte from Islamic State on Monday, leaving just one district of the city still occupied by the militants.
Philippines says China must recognize South China Sea ruling
MANILA (Reuters) – China will be the ‘loser’ if it does not recognize an international court ruling against its territorial claims in the South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Tuesday.
Australia, Taiwan, South Korea issue travel warnings for Singapore
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Australia, Taiwan and South Korea advised pregnant women and those attempting to get pregnant to avoid travel to Singapore after an outbreak of the Zika virus infected more than 50 people in the city-state.
As disaster losses mount, Sri Lanka develops tool to track them
ARANAYAKE, Sri Lanka (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Sri Lanka is planning to begin testing its first web-based disaster damage and loss reporting system by the end of the year, authorities say.
Putin’s Japan visit could be firmed up at Abe meeting
TOKYO (Reuters) – The schedule for a visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin could be decided when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets Putin later this week, Japan’s top government spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.
Second British backpacker dies week after attack at Australian hostel
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A second British backpacker died on Tuesday a week after he was stabbed trying to protect a fellow traveler during an attack at a hostel in northern Australia, police said.
