Erdogan poised to win Turkey’s first popular presidential vote
ANKARA (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan is set to secure his place in history as Turkey’s first popularly-elected president on Sunday, but his tightening grip on power has polarized the nation, worried Western allies and raised fears of creeping authoritaria…
Parents of India rape victim decry fashion shoot that evokes attack
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – An Indian fashion shoot depicting a woman being sexually assaulted on a bus has stirred memories of the fatal gang rape of a young woman in 2012, outraging the victim’s parents and activists who have demanded ac…
China frees prominent lawyer who defended religious freedom
BEIJING (Reuters) – China freed a prominent human rights lawyer after three years in prison on Thursday, his brother told Reuters, ending the latest period of detention for the religious-freedom campaigner whose treatment attracted international condem…
Ukraine says ceasefire at MH17 crash site still in force
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s government said on Friday the ceasefire with separatist rebels at the crash site of Malaysian airliner MH17 was still in force despite an announcement that it would be suspended until recovery work there resumed.
Gaza rocket fire towards Israel resumes as ceasefire expires
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian militants resumed firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Friday, Israeli police and municipal officials said, after a 72-hour ceasefire expired.
No deal in Gaza talks in final hour, Palestinians could reject: source
CAIRO (Reuters) – No deal has been reached in Egyptian-mediated talks over Gaza an hour before a 72-hour ceasefire is due to expire and Palestinian factions could reject an extension of the truce under the current terms, a Palestinian source in Cairo s…
Obama authorizes air strikes in Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday he has authorized air strikes against Islamist militants in Iraq to protect American personnel and launched humanitarian assistance to prevent a genocide of members of a religious mino…
Islamic State surges in North Iraq, near Kurdistan border
ARBIL Iraq (Reuters) – Islamist militants surged across northern Iraq toward the capital of the Kurdish region on Thursday, sending tens of thousands of Christians fleeing for their lives, in an offensive that prompted talk of Western military action.
Kenya downplays security risks as it courts U.S. investment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, in Washington this week to court Western investors, has sought to downplay a spate of violent attacks tied to militants in neighboring Somalia and their impact on Kenya’s economy.
Colombia president starts new term, warns FARC to halt attacks
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos was sworn in to a second term on Thursday promising to bring peace and equality to the nation, but warned Marxist rebels that talks to end five decades of war could rupture if hostilities again…
