Senior U.S. Congressional delegation makes rare Tibet trip
BEIJING (Reuters) – China allowed a senior U.S. Congressional delegation to visit Tibet, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, a long time critic of China’s human rights record there, a top Chinese leader said on Thursday.
Afghanistan aims to choke Taliban smuggling funds with gemstone bourse
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Afghanistan aims to deprive Taliban militants of funds from smuggled exports of the prized blue gemstone, lapis lazuli, by creating its own bourse to sell the stone, which has been traded for thousands of years in the Hindu Kush m…
Russian border guards’ return to Tajikistan ‘not on agenda’: official
ASTANA (Reuters) – Russia is worried by “terrorists” massing along the borders of the post-Soviet CIS group of states, but re-establishing Moscow’s control over the border with Afghanistan “is not on the agenda”, a senior official said on Thursday.
Turkish police detain 11 in raids targeting Islamic State: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police detained 11 suspects in helicopter-backed raids targeting Islamic State militants across Istanbul, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday, just days ahead of a G20 summit being held in the country.
Bleak job prospects drive South Korean youth to vocational schools
BUCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) – Living in a country obsessed with academic success, Jang Dong-hae did what every South Korean parent dreads when he dropped out of university a year into a finance degree, doubting whether it would get him a job with a …
Troops could be sent to Burundi if violence worsens: diplomats
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Key Western powers and the United Nations are discussing the possible deployment of international peacekeepers to Burundi if the violence in the African country spirals into a full-scale ethnic conflict, diplomats said on Wed…
Obama expresses ‘deep concern’ over situation in Burundi: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama, in a phone call with South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday, expressed “deep concern” about the situation in Burundi, the White House said.
U.N. sees Syria progress timely for migrant crisis
VALLETTA (Reuters) – Progress toward negotiations in Syria offers a glimmer of hope for easing the refugee crisis sweeping into Europe, a senior U.N. official said on Wednesday as diplomats prepared for talks later in the week.
U.N. taps crowdfunding app to tackle refugee camp food shortages
BERLIN (Reuters) – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to a funding crunch by developing a mobile app that lets people around the world donate money to help feed the 4 million displaced Syrians living in neighboring countries.
Ex-soldier arrested over Northern Ireland 1972 killings released on bail
BELFAST (Reuters) – The 66-year-old former British soldier arrested in relation to the killing of 13 Roman Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland over 40 years ago has been released on bail pending further inquiries, police said on Wednesda…
