Turkey lifts ban on trousers for women MPs in parliament
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s parliament has lifted a ban on women lawmakers wearing trousers in the assembly, in a further liberalization of dress rules following a landmark decision to allow female deputies to wear the Islamic headscarf.
China to open mission with tiny Sao Tome, despite its Taiwan links
SAO TOME (Reuters) – China plans to open a trade mission to promote projects in Sao Tome and Principe, 16 years after it broke off relations over the tiny Central African island nation’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, Sao Tome officials said.
Israel says West discussed big sanctions cut with Iran
(Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that a “bad deal” with Iran on its nuclear program could lead to war and his aides challenged U.S. assertions to have offered Tehran only “modest” relief from sanctions.
Settlers torch Palestinian home after Israeli soldier killed
SINJIL, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian house on Thursday, leaving behind a message saying they were avenging the death of an Israeli soldier killed by a Palestinian the previous day, residents said.
Bombs don’t stop business boom in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Shop assistants showcase elegant Italian menswear, next door a fast food restaurant buzzes with customers, and nearby a German sportswear shop hawks the latest high-end running shoes.
China to open mission with tiny Sao Tome, despite its Taiwan links
SAO TOME (Reuters) – China plans to open a trade mission to promote projects in Sao Tome and Principe, 16 years after it broke off relations over the tiny Central African nation’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, Sao Tome officials said.
Sri Lanka says ‘nothing to hide’ despite pressure before summit
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s president defended his government’s human rights record on Thursday, saying he had “nothing to hide”, but on the eve of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo he faced fresh questions over the treatment of ethnic minority Tami…
Turkish decision on China defense deal to take at least six months
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s decision on whether to co-produce an air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm under U.S. sanctions is likely to take at least six months, a senior Turkish defense official said on Thursday.
Singapore lifts death penalty on drug trafficker for first time
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The wealthy city-state of Singapore has for the first time lifted the death penalty given to a drug trafficker, commuting his sentence to life in prison and 15 strokes of the cane.
Leader’s death plunges Pakistan Taliban into dangerous disarray
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The killing of one of Pakistan’s most wanted Islamic militants in a U.S. drone strike has exposed centuries-old rivalries within the group he led, the Pakistani Taliban, making the insurgency ever more unpredictable and probably m…
