France’s Valls regrets football trip, to pay for children’s flights
SAINT-DENIS, LA REUNION, France (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Thursday he regretted his decision to fly with his children to a football match in a government aircraft and promised to reimburse the taxpayer for their flights.
Tiny Togo thinks big in pursuit of pan-African dream
LOME (Reuters) – The scale of Togo’s ambition is clear as you fly into the capital, Lome.
U.N. envoy quits role as mediator in Burundi crisis talks
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – The U.N. special envoy to the Great Lakes region has quit his role facilitating talks between rival factions in Burundi’s political crisis but is staying on in his broader regional position, a U.N. official said on Thursday.
Afghan security forces and militants battle over northeastern district
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan security forces and militant fighters are locked in a battle for control over a remote district in northeastern Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday.
Jakarta’s ill-famed traffic grief to residents but boon for some
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Jakarta’s traffic jams are a constant vexation for the city’s 10 million residents. With the chaos not looking to abate anytime soon, entrepreneurial types have made it their business to help fellow commuters circumvent the world’s …
Indonesian president looks to open up neglected Papua region
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants to open up the remote and impoverished region of Papua after decades of conflict and neglect, but will first need the backing of the military, parliament and separatists.
Bahrain summons Iraqi ambassador over banned Shi’ite group
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Bahrain’s foreign minister summoned the Iraqi ambassador to the country on Wednesday to hand him an official letter of protest over a banned Shi’ite group that the kingdom said received training in Iraq.
Ex-Chinese official, wanted for graft, applies for U.S. asylum
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former senior Chinese official, who went into hiding after being sought by anti-corruption investigators, has applied for asylum in the United States after been detained there, state media said on Thursday.
Tunisia rescues 350 migrants heading by boat to Italy from Libya
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s navy rescued more than 350 illegal migrants off its coast and was searching for hundreds more on Wednesday after they tried to sail from neighboring Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the local Red Cross said.
South Korea reports 14 new MERS cases, takes total to 122
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s health ministry on Thursday reported 14 new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), taking the total to 122 in an outbreak that is the largest outside Saudi Arabia.
