Turkish court rejects requests to free Kurdish lawmakers
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A Turkish court on Monday rejected bids by two Kurdish lawmakers to be released from lengthy pre-trial detention, a move that could undermine confidence in a fragile peace process with Kurdish militants.
Analysis: Mandela gone, South Africa must look to itself
QUNU, South Africa (Reuters) – Only a few hours after Nelson Mandela’s burial, the skies over South Africa’s Eastern Cape grew dark as a storm rolled in, a powerful but, according to locals, positive omen for a young democracy deprived of its founding …
Protests greet new Austrian government
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s renewed coalition government of mainstream pro-Europe parties got off to a rough start on Monday as hundreds of people dismayed by the scrapping of the science ministry protested outside the swearing-in ceremony.
Heavy gunfire rings out in Congo Republic capital
BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – Gunfire rang out in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, on Monday as the army raided the residence of the country’s former deputy intelligence chief, according to a security source and French radio RFI.
Day after burial, S. Africa unveils Mandela ‘unity’ statue
PRETORIA (Reuters) – A nine-meter (30-foot) bronze statue of Nelson Mandela with his arms outstretched to symbolize unity and reconciliation was unveiled in South Africa on Monday, a day after the nation buried the former president and anti-apartheid h…
U.S. offers help to South East Asia, most to Vietnam, to patrol seas
HANOI (Reuters) – The United States on Monday offered $32.5 million in assistance to Southeast Asian nations, more than half to Vietnam, to boost maritime security, which comes as tension grows with China over rival claims in the South China Sea.
Frustrated with government, Pakistani man turns to Taliban for help
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Frustrated with the government’s inability to help him, a man in Pakistan has appealed to Taliban warlords to rescue his 11-year-old son kidnapped by criminals more than a month ago.
South Sudan declares curfew after troops clash around capital
JUBA (Reuters) – The South Sudanese president declared a curfew in the capital Juba on Monday after clashes overnight between rival factions of soldiers.
Pakistani Shi’ite cleric shot dead in reprisal attack
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A prominent Pakistani Shi’ite Muslim cleric has been shot dead in what Taliban militants said was a reprisal attack for the killing of Sunni Muslims a month ago.
For Philippine typhoon survivors, Christmas brings hope amid the rubble
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – Thousands of survivors of super typhoon Haiyan walked in darkness towards damaged churches in central Philippines at the start of Christmas vigil dawn masses on Monday, clinging to their faith as they struggle to …
