Bets are off for stranded Hong Kong casino ship and forlorn crew
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Captain Valerie Lyzhyn and his 45 crew are stranded in Hong Kong, big losers in a gambling slump triggered by a Chinese crackdown on corruption that has scared off the high-rollers.
South African banks accused of ‘political stunt’ in ditching Zuma friends
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling ANC Women’s League and main trade union federation (Cosatu) have accused banks of pulling a “political stunt” by cutting ties with a company whose owners are under scrutiny for having undue influence with …
North Korea’s failed missile launch prompts ‘saber-rattling’ jibe from China media
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea attempted and failed to launch what experts believe was an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Friday in defiance of U.N. sanctions and in an embarrassing setback for leader Kim Jong Un, drawing criticism from major al…
Al Qaeda re-emerges as challenge for U.S., NATO in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – Leadership turmoil within the Taliban since the death of the militant group’s founder has fueled closer links with foreign groups like al Qaeda, the new commander of international forces in Afghanistan said, complicating counter-terro…
U.S., allies stage 36 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies conducted 36 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, the coalition leading the operations said.
France vows crackdown after rolling protest clashes
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s interior minister on Friday ordered a crackdown on violent fringe demonstrators after they smashed shopfronts and cars on the edge of a bigger youth protest rally held overnight against labor law reforms.
Aid groups urge halt of Turkey returns, Greek detentions under migration deal
ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Deportations of refugees and migrants to Turkey and the detention of asylum-seekers on Greek islands must stop, three aid groups said on Friday, citing fears for human rights raised by an EU-Turkey deal to curb an influx o…
Serbia arrests 49 in anti-corruption sweep
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbian police detained 49 people, including officials from ministries and state-owned firms, on suspicion of corruption and abuse of office on Friday as part of an anti-graft drive that has gained momentum before this month’s elec…
Fallen Russian soldier’s family mourns with medal, and questions
PALTSO, Russia (Reuters) – The 27-year-old Russian special forces officer smiles out of the picture in a flak jacket and camouflage hat. The last photo of Fyodor Zhuravlyov was taken in Syria, where he was deployed on a clandestine mission. At least hi…
British royals hike to mountain monastery in Bhutan
PARO VALLEY, Bhutan (Reuters) – Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge trekked on Friday to a Buddhist monastery on a mountainside in Bhutan, going one better than the duke’s father, Prince Charles, who on a 1998 trip broke off his hike to paint a wat…
