Draft Thai constitution complete, but strife seen ahead
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The generals who seized power in last year’s coup in Thailand would be granted immunity from prosecution and unelected individuals allowed to become prime minister under a preliminary draft of a new constitution seen on Friday.
Blast, gunfire heard in central Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan: Reuters witness
ERBIL (Reuters) – A blast and gunfire were heard in central Erbil on Friday, a Reuters witness said, as photographs on social media suggested the explosion happened near the U.S. consulate in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
At least 19 dead after minibus plunges into river in Tanzania
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – At least 19 people were killed on Friday after a minibus they were traveling in plunged into a river in southern Tanzania, police said.
Turkish man jailed for 12 years for Erdogan assassination attempt
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A man who attempted to assassinate Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan last year was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison on Friday by an Istanbul court, Turkish media reported.
South Africa seeks diplomatic support to defeat anti-immigrant unrest
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa sought diplomatic support from countries across the continent on Friday to defeat the “demon” of anti-immigrant violence in which at least four people have been killed over the past fortnight.
Violent clashes erupt in Kashmir over arrest of separatist leaders
SRINAGAR (Reuters) – Violent clashes erupted between protesters and police in Kashmir on Friday, after days of unrest in the Himalayan region over the killing of a youth by the army and a crackdown by authorities on separatist leaders. Police fired tea…
Germanwings crash victims remembered with candles and angels
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) – The passengers and crew killed in the Germanwings plane that crashed into the French Alps were remembered on Friday at a memorial service in which 150 candles were lit on the steps of the altar of Cologne Cathedral.
Serbian president’s plane plunges for ‘eternity’ before steadying
BELGRADE (Reuters) – An aging Serbian government plane carrying the country’s president tumbled through the air “for a whole two minutes” on Friday when an engine failed, tossing passengers around the cabin.
Obama to meet with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders May 13-14: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will meet with leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council countries at the White House on May 13 and at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland the following day, the White House said on Friday.
New restrictions in Lebanon mean Syrian refugees live in fear
BEIRUT (Reuters) – New rules in Lebanon, which has the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world, have left many thousands of them at risk of abuse from landlords and detention at any time, aid workers and a rights group say.
