Gay couple from U.S. in Thai custody battle over surrogate baby
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A gay couple from the United States said on Wednesday their lives were being “destroyed” after a Thai surrogate mother refused to sign papers allowing them to take their baby out of Thailand.
Turkish opposition leader sees early election more likely than coalition
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The leader of Turkey’s largest opposition party was reported on Thursday as saying he saw an early election as more likely than the formation of a coalition government, in comments adding to political uncertainty.
China rights activists on trial in Guangzhou amid crackdown
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A closely-watched trial of three Chinese rights activists resumed on Thursday in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, amid an unprecedented crackdown by authorities on human rights lawyers across the country.
Islamic State claims Baghdad car blast that killed 20
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants claimed responsibility on Thursday for a suicide car bombing in a mainly Shi’ite Muslim district of Baghdad that killed at least 20 people the day before.
Thai PM says Vietnam a friend, not competitor
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday brushed aside concern that Vietnam is eclipsing Thailand as a regional manufacturing base, saying Vietnam is a friend not a competitor.
China envoy warns Japan not to backtrack on expressions of WW2 remorse
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs to clearly express remorse for his nation’s World War Two actions or risk “rubbing salt in the wounds” of those who suffered, China’s ambassador to Japan said on Thursday.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian in West Bank arrest raid: medics
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian and wounded two others during a raid on a house in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said.
U.N. envoy sounds alarm over battle at Syria border
(This version of the July 22nd story corrects location of Zabadani in paragraph 3)
China says Japan’s East China Sea pictures provoke confrontation
BEIJING (Reuters) – Japan’s release of pictures of Chinese construction activity in the East China Sea will only provoke confrontation between the two countries and do nothing for efforts to promote dialogue, China’s Foreign Ministry said.
Car bomb kills 20 in Baghdad Shi’ite district
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded in a crowded marketplace in a mainly Shi’ite Muslim district of the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, police and medical sources said.
