Syria talks start on Friday, but can’t say who with or when : U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N.-mediated talks to end the war in Syria will start as planned in Geneva on Friday, U.N. spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a U.N. briefing, but there was still no information about what was expected or who would turn up.
Thailand’s draft constitution unveiled, elections pushed back
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand published a draft constitution on Friday but the official in charge of drawing it up said he feared it would not resolve long-running troubles and critics said it would produce weak civilian government under the sway of the…
French police question Disneyland gun-carrier but militant links not seen
PARIS (Reuters) – French police on Friday continued to question a man arrested with handguns and a Koran in his baggage at the Disneyland theme park in Paris but stopped short of calling in anti-terrorism investigators.
U.S. seeks to influence Russia election with graft allegations: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Statements by U.S. officials alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin is corrupt are outrageous and insulting, the Kremlin said on Friday, adding that they were an attempt to influence Russia’s next presidential election.
Peacekeepers accused of abusing children in Central African Republic: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Friday it had allegations that peacekeepers from Georgia, France and another unnamed country sexually abused children while deployed in the Central African Republic.
Burundi police detain British, French journalists in raids
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Burundi police have arrested a British and a French journalist during a sweep for rebels in flashpoint districts of the capital, officials said on Friday, a move likely to further strain tense relations between Bujumbura and Western…
Russian power plant’s staff back at work after hoax bomb call
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Workers at a Siberian hydro-electric power station were evacuated after a bomb scare on Friday but returned to work when a report that an explosive device had been planted proved false, RusHydro which owns the station said.
South Korea court jails American for 20 years for Burger King murder
SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean court jailed an American for 20 years on Friday for the murder of a South Korean student at a Burger King restaurant in 1997, after he was extradited from the United States following the acquittal of another American.
China statistics chief sacked amid corruption probe
BEIJING (Reuters) – The head of China’s National Bureau of Statistics has been sacked after authorities announced an anti-corruption investigation against him this week, state media reported on Friday.
Singapore slaps S$180,000 fine on North Korea-linked shipper
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore-based Chinpo Shipping Company (Private) Ltd was fined S$180,000 ($125,698) on Friday for facilitating a shipment of arms to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions.
