Islamic State punishes cleric who objected to pilot’s killing: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An Islamic State cleric who objected to the group’s decision to burn to death a captive Jordanian pilot has been removed from his post and will be put on trial, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.
Syrian air strikes kill 82 after rebel rocket attack: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian air force strikes killed 82 people in an opposition district outside Damascus following rocket attacks by rebels that hit the government-controlled center of the capital, a monitoring group said on Friday.
Japanese firms face wake-up call on threats of violence: security expert
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese companies with overseas operations are showing greater interest in seeking advice on security and other threats, after the Islamic State militants killed two citizens of Japan, a risk management specialist said.
Taiwan plane blackbox reveals ‘mayday’ call 35 seconds after noticing engine failure
TAIPEI (Reuters) – The blackbox data and voice recorders of a TransAsia plane that crashed into a river in Taipei showed that the pilot called “mayday” and announced an engine flameout 35 seconds after noticing engine failure, aviation authorities said…
Three South Sudanese freed after U.N. aircraft lands in rebel area
NAIROBI (Reuters) – (This February 5 story was corrected in first paragraph to say that WFP said the helicopter landed in a rebel-held region. Paragraph 4 clarifies that the government said the plane landed in the area by mistake.)
Sri Lanka backs China port city deal after threat to cancel
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet said on Thursday it would allow a $1.5 billion “port city” deal with China to go ahead, dropping a threat to cancel a project approved by the previous government.
Ukrainian, rebel convoys head for rail town to evacuate civilians
HORLIVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Convoys of buses converged from two sides on the town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine on Friday after separatist rebels and government forces appeared to have patched together a truce to allow civilians to be evacuated.
Turkey urges citizens to leave Yemen amid political crisis
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey has urged its citizens to leave Yemen due to the worsening security situation, despite a tentative deal among the country’s rival factions battling for power.
Thailand boosts military ties with China amid U.S. spat
BANGKOK (Reuters) – China and Thailand agreed on Friday to boost military ties over the next five years, from increasing intelligence sharing to fighting transnational crime, as the ruling junta seeks to counterbalance the country’s alliance with Washi…
Survivors of Australian bushfire get $235 million in biggest class action
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Survivors of one of Australia’s deadliest wildfires won compensation of A$300 million ($235 million) in a pre-trial settlement on Friday, bringing to a close the country’s costliest series of class action lawsuits.
