Factbox: Reactions to release of Reuters journalists from Myanmar prison
Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act, walked free from prison on Tuesday after spending more than 500 days behind bars.
Intense fighting in northwest Syria as army tries to advance
The Syrian army has made a small advance into the rebels’ last major stronghold in Syria, a pro-government newspaper and a war monitor reported on Tuesday, after massive bombardments that began late last month.
Smaller parties may back main opposition candidate in Istanbul re-run
Several small Turkish parties have signaled they could back the main opposition candidate for mayor of Istanbul in an election re-run, in protest at electoral authorities’ decision to cancel March’s closely fought municipal election.
Two Israelis arrested in global ‘dark’ Internet probe
Two Israelis have been arrested on suspicion of setting up a “dark” Internet site that was used to buy weapons, drugs and stolen credit cards, Israeli police said on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka warns further Islamist militant attacks cannot be ruled out
Investigators have dismantled a major part of the network linked to Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday, but warned the chance of further Islamist militant attacks could not be ruled out.
Sudan protesters’ sit-in inspires cultural outpouring
Sudanese artist Rashid Drar used to work from home. Now the 44-year-old’s canvas is any empty piece of wall he can find by a month-long sit-in outside the Defense Ministry in Khartoum.
Pompeo, Russia’s Lavrov to hold talks in Sochi on May 14: RIA
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the southern Russian city of Sochi on May 14, the RIA news agency cited a source in Russia’s foreign ministry as saying on Tuesday.
Erdogan backs re-run of Istanbul vote after ‘organized corruption’
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the decision to re-run Istanbul’s mayoral election was an important step toward strengthening democracy, describing the March vote as marred by “organized corruption” and illegality.
Germany says voters alone must decide on Istanbul mayor’s office
A Turkish decision to scrap the result of a vote for Istanbul’s mayor lost by President Tayyip Erdogan’s candidate is neither transparent nor comprehensible, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday.
Exclusive: Images show construction on China’s third – and largest – aircraft carrier
Construction of China’s first full-sized aircraft carrier is well under way, according to satellite images obtained and analyzed by a U.S. think tank.
