Mali rebels agree to security deal as step to peace accord: U.N.
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Mali’s Tuareg-led rebels have agreed to deals for a local ceasefire and more political guarantees as a step toward a U.N.-brokered peace agreement to end decades of uprisings in the north, the United Nations envoy said on Friday.
Thai students work with migrants to combat discrimination
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When Thai student Pornthep Pornsiricherd was a child, his family had a housemaid from Myanmar whom they treated as one of the family.
Pope appoints first auditor-general in latest transparency move
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican appointed its first auditor-general on Friday in Pope Francis’ latest move aimed at ensuring transparency in the scandal-plagued finances at the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Nigeria’s president must prosecute crimes by rebels, army: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations’ top human rights official called on Nigeria’s new President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday to investigate reports of horrifying crimes by Boko Haram Islamist rebels and alleged abuses by the military.
Kenya charges five men over Garissa attack
(This story filed in June 4 story, corrects title of Harun Rashid Khator in paragraph 11)
Syrian warplanes bomb Islamic State near Hasaka
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian war planes on Friday bombed Islamic State fighters trying to advance into the northeastern city of Hasaka in an offensive that is adding to the pressure on President Bashar al-Assad following recent defeats elsewhere.
China tightens Communist Party leadership at state firms
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for the strengthening of Communist Party leadership at state-owned enterprises (SOEs), state media said, as the government prepares sweeping reforms to overhaul state industry,
Vietnam launches special ‘sovereignty’ cruise, angering China
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam is offering scores of patriotic citizens the holiday of a lifetime with a cruise to some of Asia’s most hotly contested islands, in a move likely to stoke its simmering dispute with Beijing over South China Sea sovereignty.
Maine city’s police turn to Somali immigrants as diversity grows
LEWISTON, Maine (Reuters) – From the Mogadishu market to the women in brightly colored veils walking their children to school, Maine’s second-largest city shows the signs of the growing Somali-American community that is making its mark on the former Ne…
China warns U.S. over Taiwan presidential hopeful visit
BEIJING (Reuters) – China warned the United States on Friday not to send the wrong signals about Taiwan, after the presidential hopeful of the self-ruled island’s main opposition party visited Washington to rally support from U.S. officials and politic…
