U.N. accuses Islamic State of executions, rape, child abuse in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The United Nations accused Islamic State fighters in Iraq of executing religious and other leaders as well as teachers and health workers, forcibly recruiting children and raping women among acts that amounted to war crimes.
Further sanctions would have ‘chilling effect’ on Russia: IIF
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Institute of International Finance warned on Friday that further sanctions on Russia would have a “broader chilling effect on Russia” and its companies who are already largely excluded from raising foreign capital.
AIDS community mourns as top experts feared killed in downed plane
MELBOURNE/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The world of AIDS research was in shock on Friday after dozens of leading HIV experts were feared killed when a Malaysian plane was shot down over Ukraine, fuelling concerns that research on curing the disease could suff…
Typhoon slams into southern China, one dead
BEIJING (Reuters) – A super typhoon slammed into China on Friday killing one person, as the government ordered an all-out effort to prevent loss of life from a storm that has already killed at least 64 people in the Philippines.
U.S., German views on spying differ but still firm allies: Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that Germany and the United States had differing views on data protection after new allegations of U.S. spying emerged this month but added that the partnership with America was nonethel…
China appoints special envoy for Afghanistan
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it had appointed a special envoy for Afghanistan, underscoring Beijing’s concerns that the withdrawal of NATO troops will leave a hotbed of militancy on its doorstep.
Bulgaria identifies airport bus bomber as Lebanese-French national
SOFIA (Reuters) – The man who blew up a bus in a Bulgarian Black Sea resort two years ago, killing five Israeli tourists as well as himself, has been identified as a dual Lebanese-French citizen, Bulgarian authorities said on Friday.
IMF sees decision on $1.4 billion tranche to Ukraine in weeks
KIEV (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund expects to decide within weeks on issuing the second tranche of a $17-billion bailout to Ukraine, whose economy is likely to contract by 6.5 percent this year, its Kiev mission chief said on Friday.
Sri Lanka court sentences four for murder of Briton, rape of fiancée
COLOMBO (Reuters) – A Sri Lankan court convicted on Friday four men, including a ruling party town council member, of the murder of a British aid worker and the rape of his Russian fiancée and sentenced them to jail with hard labor for 20 years.
China starts criminal probe into three more former senior officials
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities began criminal investigations on Friday into three more former high-ranking officials over corruption allegations, all of them allies of powerful, retired domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang.
