U.S. patrols to raise stakes with Beijing in disputed South China Sea
HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. plans to send warships or military aircraft within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, possibly within days, could open a tense new front in Sino-U.S. rivalry.
In Manchester, Xi plays up soccer to build bridges with Britain
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday in Manchester that he hoped Britain and China would strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the area of sports, including football, according to a statement by the country’s foreign minis…
Indonesia’s Aceh province enacts Islamic criminal code
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has enacted a strict Islamic criminal code, local government officials said late on Friday, criminalizing adultery, homosexuality, and public displays of affection outside of a le…
Hurricane Patricia hits Mexico’s Pacific Coast with 165 mph winds: NHC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The eye of Hurricane Patricia made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Friday with maximum sustained winds estimated at 165 miles per hour (265 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Kerry sees new Syria talks next week, does not rule out Iran role
VIENNA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday he expects new talks on Syria to begin as soon as next week, and did not rule out participation by Iran, President Bashar al-Assad’s closest ally, which has been kept away from past p…
Israeli-Palestinian clashes persist as diplomats push for peace
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Stone-throwing Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip during “Day of Rage” protests on Friday while diplomats tried to end more than three weeks of bloodshed.
Pakistan says cannot kill Taliban while inviting them to peace talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday he had told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that Pakistan was prepared to help revive stalled Afghan peace talks but could not bring the Taliban to the negotiating table “and be …
Venezuela sues black market currency website in United States
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s Central Bank filed a lawsuit on Friday with allegations of “cyber-terrorism” against a U.S.-based website that tracks the OPEC member’s currency black market.
Engine alert forces Ethiopian 787 Dreamliner back to Dublin
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Technical experts were trying to discover the cause of an engine problem on an Ethiopian Airlines jet stranded in Dublin after being forced to turn back over the Atlantic on Friday.
Kurds say joint raid with U.S. in Iraq aimed to free their fighters
ERBIL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S. and Kurdish special forces who raided a compound in northern Iraq were acting on intelligence that Kurdish fighters were being imprisoned there by Islamic State, a source in the Kurdistan Region Security Council said on F…
