Toronto mayor Rob Ford withdraws from race, brother steps in
TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who gained global notoriety for admitting he smoked crack cocaine, dropped his re-election bid on Friday, citing a health crisis, but his older brother took his place in the race to run Canada’s largest city….
Canada ratifies China deal, may help smooth relations
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada has finally ratified a foreign investment protection agreement with China after a two-year delay in a step that may help ease tensions between the two countries and smooth the way for a possible visit to China by Prime Ministe…
China’s military secrecy justifies surveillance flights: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is justified in carrying out surveillance flights in East Asia, in spite of Chinese objections, given a lack of transparency in China’s military buildup, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Obama says need to ‘snuff out’ militant groups like Islamic State
BALTIMORE (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Friday the goal of an international coalition he is helping to form is to “ultimately snuff out” the type of extremism demonstrated by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
U.S., EU hit Russia with more sanctions despite Ukraine ceasefire
KIEV/DUSHANBE (Reuters) – The United States and European Union imposed new sanctions against Russia on Friday, tightening financial measures against Moscow over its intervention in Ukraine despite a week-old ceasefire which has brought calm to the emba…
Kerry plays down hopes of imminent anti-Islamic State coalition
ANKARA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday played down chances of an imminent broad coalition against Islamic State militants, illustrating the difficulty Washington faces winning commitment for a military campaign in the heart of …
Ahead of trial, U.S. says North Korea using Americans as ‘pawns’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Just before one of three Americans detained in North Korea is due to go on trial, a senior U.S. official on Friday accused the communist Asian country of using U.S. citizens as human “pawns.”
U.S. says Malaysia offers to host spy planes that irk China
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top U.S. Navy officer said this week that Malaysia has offered to let the United States use one of its bases for a detachment of new maritime surveillance planes, but officials clarified on Friday that no such flights had bee…
Iran’s president has not delivered on pledges of more freedom: U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s promises of greater freedoms for the Islamic Republic have not resulted in any major improvements regarding human rights and freedom of expression, the U.N. chief said in a new report on Ira…
Mexico President slams Texas governor over border crackdown
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s deployment of National Guard troops on the U.S.-Mexican border is “reprehensible” and puts neighborly relations at risk, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said in an interview published on Friday.
