U.S. lifted Uzbekistan’s rights ranking as cotton field abuses continued
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The news reached Dmitry Tihonov in Uzbekistan’s rural heartland as the labor activist quietly recorded the arrival of thousands of teachers, nurses, laborers, students and other conscripts sent to the fields…
Russian defense minister: Russia rearms Kyrgyzstan to counter Islamic State – RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is actively rearming the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan to help it counter the threat posed by Islamic State to Central Asia, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by RIA news agency as saying on Wednesday.
Czech PM says Germany encouraged illegal immigration, his Twitter account hacked
BERLIN/PRAGUE (Reuters) – Germany encouraged illegal immigration to Europe with its humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, the Czech prime minister was cited as saying by a German newspaper on Wednesday.
Russia issues Crimea banknote in move likely to irk Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia on Wednesday issued a new banknote dedicated to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it annexed last year, in a move likely to anger Kiev which says it wants the territory back.
French armed forces order two communications satellites
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s armed forces have ordered two next generation communication satellites from Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Russia’s Lavrov to discuss Syria conflict with Qatar foreign minister on December 25
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Khaled al-Attiyah on Dec. 25, and the conflict in Syria will be high on their agenda, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Man pulled out alive from China mudslide after three days
SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) – A man was pulled out alive from rubble in a southern Chinese city on Wednesday, more than 60 hours after a waste heap collapsed and buried dozens of buildings in mud and construction debris, state media said.
Poland’s Walesa calls for early election, sees democracy at risk
WARSAW (Reuters) – Lech Walesa, leader of the Solidarity trade union that ended communism in Poland, said on Wednesday democracy was at risk and called for a referendum to force the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to hold an early election.
Chinese labor activists stand accused by state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese state media have accused seven detained labor activists of “inciting workers to go on strike”, accepting foreign funding and “disturbing social order”, sparking criticism from rights groups.
Ukraine health system in danger of collapse as reforms stall
STAIKY, Ukraine (Reuters) – Paint is flaking on the damp walls and cracked ceilings of the small hospital in the Ukrainian village of Staiky and much of the equipment is over 30 years old.
