Chinese sperm bank gets political with donors
BEIJING (Reuters) – A sperm bank in Beijing has set strict criteria for would-be donors, including a requirement that they are loyal to China’s ruling Communist Party.
Syrian government launches assault on rebel-held Douma
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian Republican Guard forces pushed into the last rebel-held area of the eastern Ghouta near Damascus on Friday, state TV reported, where a war monitor said heavy air strikes killed at least 32 people including five children.
Malaysia’s opposition declares common logo ahead of polls
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday announced that the opposition alliance he now leads would contest the coming general election under the logo of the party of his former political nemesis, Anwar Ibrahi…
Israeli troops kill four Palestinians as Gaza border protests resume: medics
GAZA BORDER (Reuters) – Israeli troops shot dead four Palestinian protesters and wounded at least 200 along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, Gaza medical officials said, raising the death toll to 24 in the week-long disturbances.
Syrian troops push into rebel-held Douma as talks collapse
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian Republican Guard forces pushed into the rebel-held area of Douma in eastern Ghouta near Damascus on Friday, Syrian state TV reported, as mediated talks between the combatants collapsed.
Germany, France develop new maritime surveillance plane against Russian subs
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany and France will launch a program this month to develop a new marine patrol and surveillance aircraft, the German navy said on Friday, in what defence sources said was a response to a sharp increase in Russian submarine patrol…
Prominent Russian businessmen on new U.S. sanctions list
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The United States imposed sanctions on Friday against Russian businessmen, companies and government officials.
U.S. imposes major sanctions on Russian oligarchs, officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States imposed major sanctions on Friday against 24 Russians, striking at allies of President Vladimir Putin in one of Washington’s most aggressive moves to punish Moscow for what it called a range of “malign activity,…
Brazil’s Lula fights prison order, won’t turn himself in -source
BRASILIA/SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil (Reuters) – Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not turn himself in to serve a 12-year prison sentence for bribery until a higher court rules on a last-minute appeal, a party source with knowl…
Two Palestinians killed as Israel-Gaza border protests resume: medics
GAZA BORDER (Reuters) – Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinian protesters and wounded at least 150 along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday, Gaza medical officials said, raising the death toll to 22 in the week-long disturbances.
