Australia celebrates first same-sex marriages ahead of court challenge
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia celebrated its first same-sex marriages on Saturday under the threat of a court challenge that could render the unions invalid within days.
South Africa mourns Mandela, will bury him on December 15
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africans united in mourning for Nelson Mandela on Friday, but while some celebrated his remarkable life with dance and song, others fretted that the anti-apartheid hero’s death would leave the nation vulnerable again to r…
Mexico hospitalizes six suspected of stealing radioactive material
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Six men suspected of stealing a dangerous radioactive cargo from a truck outside Mexico City earlier this week have been treated in a hospital for signs of radiation exposure and remain under police guard, officials said on Frid…
U.N., U.S. call for investigations into Thai trafficking of Rohingya
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United Nations and the United States called Friday for investigations into the findings of a Reuters report that Thai immigration officials moved Myanmar refugees into human trafficking rings.
French launch Central African Republic mission but deaths mount
BANGUI (Reuters) – France rushed troops to Central African Republic on Friday but violence between Muslim and Christian militias continued unabated, spiraling into widespread killings of civilians.
Exclusive: Brazil report on World Cup air traffic jams at odds with government view
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil insists its airports will be ready for up to 600,000 foreign visitors during next year’s World Cup, but an internal report said severe overcrowding and long flight delays are likely, with passenger traffic exceeding capacity…
Yemen says regains ministry compound, 12 militants killed
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen said on Friday it had regained full control of its Defence Ministry compound in Sanaa a day after a militant attack, claimed by an al Qaeda-affiliated group, killed 56 people, including foreign medical staff.
Aide to North Korean leader’s ousted uncle seeks asylum in South: media
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea could be facing its most serious defection in 15 years as South Korean media said on Friday that a man who managed funds for the ousted uncle of leader Kim Jong Un had fled the isolated country and sought asylum in South K…
Hagel reassures Gulf allies U.S. committed to regional security
MANAMA (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel toured a U.S. warship in the Gulf on Friday and declared Washington’s commitment to Middle East security, despite policy differences over Iran and Syria that have angered Gulf allies.
France agrees to help African nations set up military force
PARIS (Reuters) – France agreed on Friday to help African nations create a joint military force to tackle coups, wars and rebellions on the continent, after the former colonial power was forced into its second military operation in Africa this year.
