Philippines rejects talks with militants for release of captives
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will not negotiate with Islamist militants demanding ransom within a month for the release of three foreign men and a Filipino woman kidnapped from a beach resort nearly six months ago, a military spokesman said on Fr…
China must further purge energy sector of Zhou scandal ‘poison’, former top official says
BEIJING (Reuters) – China needs to further purge its oil industry of the “poison” of disgraced security chief Zhou Yongkang to ensure healthy development that lets the sector compete internationally, a former top energy executive said on Friday.
‘Hearts are in pieces’ five years after tsunami hits Japan
RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan (Reuters) – Japan on Friday mourned the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago that turned towns to matchwood and triggered the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
Russia expects Syrian government to attend Geneva peace talks next week
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad’s government has said its delegates will attend peace talks on the Syrian conflict due to start in Geneva next week, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
Three years on, pope leaves Catholic conservatives feeling marginalized
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Three years after the election of Pope Francis, Roman Catholic conservatives are growing increasingly worried that he is quietly unraveling the legacy of his predecessors.
China able to project ‘substantial offensive power’ from Spratlys in months: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China will be able to project “substantial offensive military power” from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea’s disputed Spratly Islands within months, the director of U.S. national intelligence said.
U.N. accuses South Sudan forces of campaign of rape and killing
GENEVA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s government operated a “scorched earth policy” of deliberate rape, pillage and killing of civilians during the civil war in 2015, a report published on Friday by the U.N. human rights office said.
British fears over immigration should be addressed: Archbishop of Canterbury
LONDON (Reuters) – British fears about immigration should be addressed and those voters who are concerned should not be branded racist, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in an interview published on Friday.
Blair says Britain will vote to stay in EU, tells pro-Europeans to show passion
LONDON (Reuters) – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday he felt voters would opt to stay in the European Union in a June 23 referendum but called on the “in” campaign to show more passion.
U.N. envoy sees Syria presidential election in 18 months’ time: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syria will hold a presidential election in 18 months, Russia’s RIA news agency on Friday quoted the United Nations peace mediator on Syria Staffan de Mistura as saying.
