Afghanistan completes election audit in step toward new president
KABUL (Reuters) – A U.N.-supervised audit of votes in Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election has finished, an Afghan electoral official said on Friday.
Heavy rains kill 73 in Pakistan as floods spread
ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD Pakistan (Reuters) – At least 73 people have been killed across Pakistan after heavy rains brought flash floods and caused homes to collapse in the Punjab and Kashmir regions, government officials said Friday.
U.S. says forms ‘core coalition’ to counter Iraq militants
NEWPORT Wales (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it was forming a “core coalition” to battle Islamic State militants in Iraq, calling for broad support from allies and partners but ruling out committing ground forces.
NATO to help coordinate security assistance for Iraq
NEWPORT Wales (Reuters) – NATO leaders are set to agree at a summit on Friday to help organize security assistance for Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants, including coordinating the airlift of supplies, a Western official said.
South Africa denies Dalai Lama visa again
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa has denied a visa to the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, for the third time in five years, one of his representatives said on Thursday, intensifying speculation about the extent of Beijing’s sway over Pretoria.
Turkey’s Erdogan to seek Gulen extradition in Obama talks: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will seek the extradition of his ally-turned-foe, U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, when he meets U.S. President Barack Obama at the NATO summit on Friday, Turkish media reports said.
For Australian PM Abbott, crises lead to strident foreign policy
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Conservative Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy that has moved him closer to the United States on crises like Iraq and Ukraine, but has some worried over the risk of alienating C…
Swedish opposition extends lead ahead of election: poll
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s centre-left opposition held a comfortable lead nine days ahead of national elections, an opinion poll published on Friday showed, pointing to a wider lead for the grouping of the Social Democrats, Greens and Left parties….
With free visas, Thailand tells Chinese tourists ‘please come back soon’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – To make vacationing in a country still under martial law a little more attractive, Thailand’s military junta is offering tourists from China free visas.
Indonesia’s next leader, Widodo, faces party divided over fuel subsidies
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A plan by Indonesia’s next leader to hike fuel prices this year faces opposition within his coalition, party officials said, stirring concern whether he will have the political support to take such a contentious step during his firs…
