U.N. calls for credible Myanmar election, minority protection
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations called on Myanmar on Friday to continue reforms to ensure credible elections next year and to step up efforts to protect ethic and religious minorities.
Canadian vets plan to join Kurdish fight against Islamic State
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Several former Canadian soldiers plan to join Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants in coming weeks, with at least one already in Iraq, Canadian media reported on Friday, bolstering the ranks of foreigners fighting alongsid…
Grappling with protests, Mexico president urges swift judicial reform
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Embattled President Enrique Peña Nieto called on Mexico’s states on Friday to swiftly adopt steps to modernize the justice system as he tries to defuse mass protests over the apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers.
Accused Colombia rebel extradited to U.S. to face hostage-taking charges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An accused member of the Colombian FARC rebel group was extradited from Colombia to face hostage-taking and terrorism charges in U.S. court in Washington, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.
Egypt hires German firm to bore transport tunnels under Suez Canal
CAIRO/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Egypt will use machines made by a German firm to bore at least four tunnels under the Suez Canal, part of an $8 billion project to expand the waterway that the government hopes will raise revenues and foreign currency reserv…
Sudan asks U.N. mission in Darfur to prepare to leave
KHARTOUM, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Sudan has asked the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur to prepare to leave, a senior official said amid a dispute between the United Nations and Khartoum over an alleged mass rape in the region.
Turkey, U.S. play down differences on fight against Islamic State
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey and the United States played down differences in the fight against Islamic State on Friday, but Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made clear Ankara would keep pressing for a no-fly zone in Syria and President Bashar al-Assad’s …
China building South China Sea island big enough for airstrip: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Satellite images show China is building an island on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands large enough to accommodate what could be its first offshore airstrip in the South China Sea, a leading defense publication said on Frida…
Biden voices support for Ukraine, denounces Russia’s Putin
KIEV (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday condemned Russia’s behaviour in Ukraine as “unacceptable” and said Moscow should abide by a September peace deal and pull its military forces out of the country.
Icelandic interior minister quits after immigration scandal
REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – Iceland’s minister of the interior quit on Friday after her assistant was convicted last week of illegally leaking information about an asylum seeker to media a year ago.
