Ahead of vote, Erdogan paints picture of Turkey besieged by enemies
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – To the adulation of the cheering crowds at his election rallies, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan paints a picture of an “evil alliance” plotting to topple him and break Turkey. In another place, on another day, his chief rival portra…
Trapped at sea, tanker captain craved salvation from Libya rebels
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Pakistani sea captain Mirza Noman Baig knew he was trapped when dozens of fighters armed with rifles boarded his tanker just off a rebel-held port on Libya’s coast.
U.N. launches Sri Lanka war crimes investigation
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations on Thursday launched an inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed by both Sri Lankan state forces and Tamil rebels during their conflict that ended in 2009, saying the government had failed to investigate properl…
South Korea seizes North Korean boat amid new tensions
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s military on Thursday seized a North Korean fishing boat that it said had crossed a disputed maritime border after ignoring warnings to retreat amid growing tension between the two sides.
Support for Brazil president drops ahead of October vote
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Popular support for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has faltered ahead of October’s presidential election, a poll showed Thursday, although she remains a favorite to win a second term.
Israel to allow materials into Gaza for Turkish hospital
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Thursday it will allow into the Gaza Strip construction materials and electric equipment to help build a Turkish-sponsored hospital, in a possible sign of improving ties with Ankara.
Turkey says Syrian air defences put Turkish jets under radar lock
ANKARA (Reuters) – Syrian air defence systems have “harassed” Turkish F-16 fighter jets patrolling their own airspace by repeatedly putting them under “radar lock”, suggesting they were about to be fired at, the Turkish military said on Thursday.
China loses WTO bid to overturn U.S. law against unfair subsidies
GENEVA (Reuters) – China lost its bid to overturn U.S. legislation targeting unfair trade subsidies on Thursday, its second defeat in a World Trade Organization dispute within 24 hours.
U.N. launches investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations on Thursday launched an inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed by both Sri Lankan state forces and Tamil rebels during their conflict that ended in 2009, saying the government had failed to investigate properl…
U.N. watchdog urges Obama to review deadly drone policy
GENEVA (Reuters) – A U.N. human rights watchdog called on the Obama administration on Thursday to review its use of drones to kill suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban militants abroad and reveal how it chose its targets.
