‘Czar Putin’: as secure as he seems?
PARIS (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin turned 63 this week with his now traditional display of sporting prowess, and an announcement that Russian naval vessels had launched a wave of missiles against Islamic State in Syria.
ICC prosecutor plans probe into 2008 Georgia-Russia war
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court said on Wednesday that its prosecutor planned to investigate possible crimes committed in the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, bringing Moscow, an opponent of the court, into its sights fo…
U.S. to sail warships near disputed South China Sea islands: FT
(Reuters) – The United States is expected to sail warships close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea within the next two weeks to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, the Financial Times reported, citing a senior U.S. official.
Malaysia court upholds ban on cross dressing by transgender Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s highest court on Thursday dismissed a challenge to a ban on cross-dressing, dealing a major setback to the battle for the rights of the country’s transgender community, as Islamic conservatism grows in the Southeast …
Exclusive: Congress probing U.S. spy agencies’ possible lapses on Russia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senior U.S. lawmakers have begun probing possible intelligence lapses over Moscow’s intervention in Syria, concerned that American spy agencies were slow to grasp the scope and intention of Russia’s dramatic military offensive there, U.S. congressional sources and other officials told Reuters.
Rwanda’s top court clears way for Kagame third term
KIGALI (Reuters) – Rwanda’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that President Paul Kagame could run for a third seven-year term, rejecting an attempt by the main opposition party to block changes to the country’s constitution.
France’s far-right party targets Muslim vote in Paris region
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front will launch a campaign to woo Muslim voters in Paris’ depressed suburbs in December regional elections, according to its lead candidate in the Ile-de-France region which includes the capital.
Turkey bans TV channels close to Erdogan foe ahead of polls
ANKARA (Reuters) – A state prosecutor has banned Turkey’s largest pay-TV platform from broadcasting channels close to an arch-enemy of President Tayyip Erdogan, heightening concern about press freedom weeks ahead of an election.
New Japan cabinet minister seeks to stem shrinking population
TOKYO (Reuters) – A new Japanese cabinet minister tasked with finding ways to boost the birthrate and keep a shrinking population from falling below 100 million said on Thursday he hoped to win over more Japanese to his view that childrearing is reward…
Merkel slams east Europeans on refugees in private talk: Politico
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel rounded on east European governments that refuse to take in refugees, accusing them of yielding to prejudice and ignoring their own history, the Politico website reported on Thursday.
