Chinese general tours U.S. carrier as maritime tensions fester
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A top Chinese general toured an American aircraft carrier on Tuesday at the start of a U.S. visit expected to expose tensions over territorial disputes between Beijing and U.S. allies in the South and East China Seas.
Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists ambushed Ukrainian troops on Tuesday, killing seven in the heaviest loss of life for government forces in a single clash since Kiev sent soldiers to put down a rebellion in the country’s east.
Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese court gave a 27-year-old woman until Thursday to abandon her newly adopted Christian faith and return to Islam or face a death sentence, judicial sources said on Monday.
Frustrated Syria mediator Brahimi to step down, U.N. seeks replacement
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will step down on May 31, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, blaming an international deadlock over how to end the three-year civil war in the country for hampering his bid to b…
Guatemala eyes alternative crop subsidies to dampen poppy allure
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (Reuters) – Guatemala is considering subsidizing alternative crops for poppy farmers in order to curb the production of narcotics and raise funds for social programs, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Aviation industry to work on voluntary tracking ahead of U.N. rules
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The United Nations aviation agency said on Tuesday that the industry would voluntarily begin to improve aircraft tracking while the agency develops mandatory standards for tracking following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines f…
Nigeria issues Interpol arrest warrant for British-born bomb suspect
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria has issued an international arrest warrant for a British-born army deserter it suspects plotted two bombings in the capital that killed at least 90 people, it said on Tuesday.
Nigeria signals readiness to talk to Boko Haram rebels
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s government signaled willingness on Tuesday to negotiate with Islamist militants holding more than 200 schoolgirls, a month after the kidnap that has provoked global outrage.
French journalist killed in Central African Republic
PARIS/BANGUI (Reuters) – A French journalist has been killed in Central African Republic, the office of President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday, the first death of a Western reporter in the country since France sent troops there in December.
Palestinian factions start talks on forming joint government
GAZA (Reuters) – Officials from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction and the rival Islamist Hamas group met in Gaza on Tuesday to discuss the make-up of a unity government they hope will end a seven-year schism.