Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa loses minority support ahead of polls
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Political parties mainly representing Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils and Muslims, who account for a quarter of the total vote, have said they will back President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s challenger in a Jan. 8 presidential poll.
Exclusive: AirAsia crash probe focuses on timing of request to climb, weather
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Reuters) – Investigators into the AirAsia flight which crashed into the sea off Indonesia are focusing on the timing of the crew’s request to climb to a higher altitude to avoid bad weather as a possible factor behind the tragedy, …
U.N. envoy to be represented at January 26-29 Syria talks in Moscow
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. Syria envoy Staffan De Mistura will be represented at talks about Syria in Moscow between Jan. 26 and Jan. 29, his spokeswoman Juliette Touma told Reuters on Tuesday.
U.S.-led coalition air strikes hit Islamic State in Syria, Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies conducted 15 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq on Tuesday, hitting several units of fighters and buildings, the U.S. military said.
Russia says new U.S. sanctions may hamper dialogue on Iran, Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that a widening of U.S. sanctions against Moscow this week may hamper bilateral cooperation on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and the Syrian crisis.
Bahrain extends detention of opposition leader: Al Wefaq
MANAMA/GENEVA (Reuters) – The head of Bahrain’s main Shi’ite Muslim opposition group, detained on Sunday after leading a protest rally over last month’s elections, has been remanded in custody for a further week, a group official said on Tuesday.
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi says ‘too early’ to commit to 2015 election
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the government on Tuesday to hold a transparent election next year and said her party was waiting for a poll date to be set before deciding whether to run.
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi says ‘too early’ to commit to 2015 election
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the government on Tuesday to hold a transparent election next year and said her party was waiting for a poll date to be set before deciding whether to run.
Dozens die as Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines battered by storms
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia, southern Thailand and parts of the Philippines have been battered by heavy rain and flash floods in recent days, killing dozens, officials said on Tuesday.
Migrant ship off Greece says armed people on board: reports
ATHENS (Reuters) – A cargo ship believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants near the Greek island of Corfu sent out a distress signal saying armed people were on board on Tuesday, Greek television reported.
