Japan, mulling new fighter jets, opens talks with defense contractors
(Reuters) – Japan has opened talks with Western defense contractors about building a new generation of fighter jets, sources say, in what would mark an important milestone in Tokyo’s strategy to maintain its air superiority over rival China.
Modi under fire as rising costs put squeeze on ‘middle India’
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Sharp rises in education and healthcare costs in the last two years have hit India’s burgeoning middle class hard, denting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity among the relatively well-off ahead of a series of state e…
Obama challenges Communist-led Cuba with call for democracy
HAVANA (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama challenged Cuba’s Communist government with an impassioned call for democracy and economic reforms on Tuesday, addressing the Cuban people directly in a historic speech broadcast throughout the island.
U.N. expert denounces scores of attacks on people with albinism
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – At least forty people with albinism have reportedly been attacked in the last eight months, the United Nations’ top expert on albinism said on Tuesday in releasing a report condemning the superstitions behind the…
China says Philippines fishermen used fire bombs in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – Philippines fishermen threw fire bombs at Chinese law enforcement vessels in the South China Sea, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after Philippines media reported that fishermen had been struck by bottles hurled from China…
Finland and Russia agree on temporary border restrictions
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Russia and Finland agreed on Tuesday to impose temporary restrictions at two Arctic border crossing points following an increased flow of asylum seekers from Russia to Finland earlier this year.
UNHCR says won’t work in Greek ‘detention centers’ in swipe at EU-Turkey deal
GENEVA/LESBOS (Reuters) – The United Nations refugee agency dealt a blow to EU efforts to stem the biggest humanitarian crisis in generations on Tuesday, saying it would no longer assist in the transfer of migrants and refugees arriving in Greece to “d…
Dutch police fire warning shot in drug suspects’ arrest
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A police officer fired a warning shot during the arrests of three men near Amsterdam’s central station on Tuesday evening, Dutch police said in a statement.
U.N. envoy turns to U.S., Russia to give impetus to Syria talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. special envoy on Syria said he hoped a meeting between the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers on Wednesday would give impetus to peace talks where the divisive issue of a political transition is stalling progress.
Tunisia forces break up Islamic State recruiting cell
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian police have broken up a cell recruiting fighters for Islamic State in Libya, authorities said, part of a security crackdown on jihadists crossing the border.
