Kerry: critics of Iran deal spinning ‘fantasy,’ urges approval
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday mounted a furious counterattack against critics of the Iran nuclear deal, telling skeptical lawmakers it would be fantasy to think the United States could simply “bomb away” Tehran’s…
China in ‘race to bottom’ with North Korea on rights: U.S. congressman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An influential U.S. congressman denounced religious persecution in China on Thursday, comparing some practices to those of the Nazis and saying that Beijing was in a “race to the bottom” with its neighbor North Korea on human rig…
Paychecks aplenty as ghosts haunt Cambodia’s lax bureaucracy
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Borith has been on the payroll of Cambodia’s parliament for 15 years but rarely shows up for work. He is busy with his other job at a non-governmental organization, and no one notices his absence.
Chinese dissident sets sights on seat in Taiwan parliament
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Twenty-six years after Wu’er Kaixi stood alongside young comrades to stare down People’s Liberation Army tanks in Tiananmen Square, the Chinese democracy activist has his sights set on winning a seat in Taiwan’s parliament.
Laws passed, Greece to open bailout talks as recession pushes goals further
ATHENS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Greece’s creditors prepared on Thursday for the start of bailout talks in Athens, after lawmakers adopted a second package of reform measures before dawn despite a left wing rebellion that may bring early elections.
Frontlines of Yemen’s war shift in favor of Riyadh
DUBAI/ADEN (Reuters) – The tide of Yemen’s messy war has unexpectedly turned, handing a morale boost and possibly decisive military momentum to Gulf Arab-backed forces bent on ending the ascendancy of the Houthis, a powerful militia they see as a puppe…
Iraq deploys U.S.-trained troops to Ramadi fight for first time
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq has for the first time deployed soldiers trained by the U.S.-led coalition in their campaign to retake the city of Ramadi from Islamic State militants, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Ukraine, rebels urged to sign deal extending arms withdrawal
PARIS (Reuters) – The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine agreed in a telephone call on Thursday that preliminary accords to extend a pull-back of weapons in east Ukraine should be signed quickly, French President Francois Hollande’s office …
Death toll rises to 37 after blasts in Nigerian city of Gombe
ABUJA (Reuters) – The death toll from multiple bomb blasts at two bus stations in the northern Nigerian city of Gombe on Wednesday has risen to 37, with 105 others injured, a Red Cross official said on Thursday.
Up to 40 migrants feared drowned off Libyan coast: U.N.
ROME (Reuters) – Up to 40 African migrants were feared drowned after their inflatable boat sank near the Libyan coast, survivors told the United Nations refugee agency on Thursday after reaching Italy.
