Child and maternal deaths tumble, East Africa leads the way: U.N.
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Maternal and child death rates fell in every one of the poorest 49 countries in the world between 2010 and 2013, largely as a result of a U.N. initiative launched in 2010, the world body said on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s military says eastern rebels using truce to amass arms
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday pro-Russian rebels were amassing heavy weapons in depots around separatist-held Donetsk city despite a ceasefire deal.
Germans outraged after far-right rally forces mayor’s resignation
BERLIN (Reuters) – Senior German politicians warned on Tuesday that basic freedoms were threatened after a mayor in an eastern town resigned saying local authorities had failed to stop a far-right protest outside his house.
China choosing Dalai Lama like Castro naming pope: Tibetan exile leader
DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) – For China to find a successor to the Dalai Lama would be like former Cuban leader Fidel Castro choosing the pope, the political head of Tibet’s exiles said on Tuesday, in response to comments by a senior Chinese official.
Jordan’s King Abdullah urges EU to fight ‘Islamophobia’
STRASBOURG (Reuters) – King Abdullah of Jordan urged Europeans on Tuesday to fight hostility toward Islam that he said was fuelling extremism among Muslims, including those drawn from Europe to fight in the Middle East.
Pakistan to restart executions for death row prisoners
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan will begin executing criminals on death row whose appeals have been exhausted, an interior ministry spokesman said Tuesday, reversing an earlier announcement that only those convicted of terrorism would be executed.
Pakistani province cracks down on child marriage
LAHORE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Parents and clerics in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province who allow the marriage of underage children will face greater penalties than before as the provincial assembly has passed changes to a law.
U.S. envoy to South Korea to maintain open stance despite attack
SEOUL (Reuters) – The U.S. ambassador to South Korea said on Tuesday he plans to maintain his open, approachable style despite being slashed by a knife-wielding Korean nationalist five days ago, causing him wounds that required 80 stitches in his face….
With help from his allies, Syria’s Assad looks set to stay
BEIRUT (Reuters) – As the United States and Iran negotiate the final stages of a nuclear deal, they are still oceans apart on another area of conflict: the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
U.S., allies conduct 12 air strikes in Syria, Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and coalition forces conducted eight air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq during a 24-hour period, while U.S. forces led four air strikes in Syria, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.
