Myanmar nationalists threaten protests over Rohingya vote change
YANGON (Reuters) – Nationalist monks and some political leaders in Myanmar have threatened to hold mass rallies to protest a parliamentary decision giving the Rohingya ethnic minority voting rights in a referendum to amend the constitution.
Only 6 percent chance British election will result in majority government: research
LONDON (Reuters) – There is only a six percent chance the British election on May 7 will produce a majority government, according to analysis published on Friday, with opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband most likely to end up as prime minister.
U.S. lawmakers begin push for more sanctions on North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to broaden sanctions against North Korea by imposing stiffer punishments on foreign companies doing business with Pyongyang, a measure that could impact mostly on Chinese firms.
Islamic State in Syria seen under strain but far from collapse
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State’s defeat in Kobani and other recent setbacks in Syria suggest the group is under strain but far from collapse in the Syrian half of its self-declared caliphate.
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.
