Turkey’s Erdogan, master tactician, seen angling for new election
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan’s statesmanlike appeals for Turkey’s rival parties to leave egos aside and form a new government may suggest the combative leader has turned over a new leaf, but even those close to him wonder how long it wil…
China premier orders probe after ‘left behind’ children kill themselves
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has ordered an investigation into the case of four “left behind” children who apparently committed suicide by drinking pesticide in a poor part of southwestern China, as millions of workers leave loved one…
Frustrated donors end funding for Afghan parliamentary elections
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s failure to set a date for postponed parliamentary elections or act on promised reforms has prompted foreign aid donors to cut short a multi-million-dollar project to fund electoral bodies, diplomats have told Reuters.
‘Brexit’ threatens London but don’t expect a stampede: City boss
LONDON (Reuters) – A British exit from the European Union would gradually sap the world’s financial capital of wealth and power but there would be no stampede of bankers and traders to rival centers, the City of London’s policy chief told Reuters.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition leader sees state links in unrest
ANKARA (Reuters) – The leader of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party on Friday accused figures within the state of links to violence in the largely Kurdish southeastern province of Diyarbakir this week, which left four dead.
China growing confident as Hong Kong democracy vote looms: sources
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Senior Chinese officials are privately expressing confidence that Hong Kong will pass a contentious, Beijing-vetted electoral reform package next week, potentially setting the scene for a fresh wave of pro-democracy protests in th…
Nine killed in clashes between Islamic State and other militants in eastern Libya
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – At least nine fighters were killed in clashes on Friday between Islamic State and another Islamist force in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, a source in one group said.
Germany drops probe into U.S. spying on Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s top public prosecutor closed a year-long investigation into the suspected tapping of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone by U.S. spies, saying there was a lack of evidence that would stand up in court.
China calls for border stability after Myanmar ceasefire
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Friday called on Myanmar to restore stability to their common border after a rebel group that has been battling the Myanmar military announced a unilateral ceasefire.
Damascus says it has faced worse times, key areas secure
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – The Syrian government says it has weathered worse spells in the four-year-old conflict than the current advances by insurgents across the country and is confident its army can hit back with the help of its allies.
