Sri Lanka intensifies scrutiny of Chinese projects
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka ordered a review of 35 investment projects on Friday, most of them awarded to Chinese firms by the previous administration, suggesting ties remain fragile despite Beijing’s attempts to assuage concerns.
Islamic State fights rival rebels in Damascus refugee camp
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters battled rival insurgents for control of a Palestinian refugee camp on the Damascus outskirts on Friday, a monitoring group said, attempting to secure a foothold close to President Bashar al-Assad’s seat of powe…
Serbia war crimes cooperation not a question of truth or justice: president
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia must cooperate with a U.N. war crimes court seeking the return of an ultra-nationalist defendant, not on the basis of truth or justice but because it’s the law, the Balkan country’s president said on Friday.
Lithuania to increase military spending to counter Russian threat
VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuania, spooked by Russian military assertiveness, outlined plans on Friday to raise defense spending by a third in 2016, contributing the highest share of its economy to defense since it joined NATO in 2004.
Syria says 15,000 antiquities at risk in militia-run Idlib
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Around 15,000 antiquities locked away in safes around the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib are at risk of being sold on the black market, the head of antiquities and museums Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters on Friday.
China evacuates foreign nationals from Yemen in unprecedented move
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese naval frigate has evacuated 225 foreign citizens from strife-torn Yemen, its foreign ministry said, marking the first time that China’s military has helped other countries evacuate their people during an international cris…
China charity law set to boost public trust in charities
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has prepared a draft law for charities to register directly with the government, making it easier for them to raise funds and gain tax exemptions, while allaying public concern over the way they are run, following some high-pr…
Turkish teenager appears in court for insulting president
KONYA (Reuters) – A 16-year old Turkish high school student appeared in court on Friday in the central Anatolian city of Konya on charges of insulting President Tayyip Erdogan.
North Korea fires short-range missiles ahead of U.S. defense chief visit to Seoul
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea on Friday test-fired four missiles off its west coast, a week ahead of a visit to Seoul by the U.S. defense secretary, in what South Korea called a bid to stoke tension during its joint military drills with the United Stat…
Moscow condemns ‘anti-Russian campaign’ in U.S.
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia expressed outrage on Friday over a “frenzied anti-Russian campaign” by U.S. media and political analysts, stepping up a war of words that has intensified during the Ukraine crisis.
