Philippines preempts protest, says to plug leaks in ‘pork barrel’ funds
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will plug leaks in a controversial fund set aside for legislators’ pet projects, the latest in President Benigno Aquino’s efforts to clean up one of Southeast Asia’s most corrupt nations.
American photographer escapes Syrian Islamist torturers: paper
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An American photographer has escaped from Syrian Islamists who seized him in December, tortured him and were still holding an American cellmate near Aleppo, the freelancer told the New York Times.
Pakistan’s ruling party consolidates grip on power in new votes
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party has consolidated its hold on power, results from by-elections released on Friday showed, cementing its ability to push through unpopular reforms aimed at kick-starting the stagnating e…
Palestinian group says no casualties in Israeli strike:TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Palestinian militant group in Lebanon said one of its bases south of Beirut was hit by an Israeli rocket on Friday, but said it caused no injuries or significant damage, Lebanon’s Al-Manar Television reported.
China makes big show of Bo trial, but it’s still just theatre
BEIJING (Reuters) – With detailed online transcripts carried by China’s version of Twitter, Beijing is making an unprecedented effort to show its people that the trial of ousted politician Bo Xilai is fair and above board, but the court case is little …
Number of children who have fled Syria reaches a million, says U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The number of Syrian children forced to flee their devastated homeland will on Friday reach a million, half of all the refugees driven abroad by the conflict, the United Nations said.
U.N. peacekeepers in Congo ordered to protect civilians after city shelled
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – The head of the U.N. mission in Congo on Thursday ordered peacekeeping troops to act to protect civilians after shelling hit the city of Goma in renewed fighting between the army and M23 rebels.
Insight: In small American town, a window into Egyptian general’s past
CARLISLE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Unlike today’s ubiquitous images of General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in crisp uniform decorated with medals, the U.S. Army War College yearbook shows the officer who would one day seize power in Egypt smiling at a party i…
U.S., Russian diplomats to meet next Wednesday to discuss Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senior U.S. and Russian diplomats will meet in The Hague next Wednesday to discuss ending Syria’s two-year civil war, the State Department said on Thursday, in what would be the first such meeting since reports of a deadly chemic…
Colombia’s Santos seeks referendum to pave way for peace deal
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he will send a bill to Congress seeking to hold a referendum on a hoped-for peace deal with the Marxist FARC group on the same day as national elections, a sign that he sees an agreed end t…
