Putin not flinching on Ukraine despite economic crisis
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A surge in violence in east Ukraine is undermining international hopes that Russia’s financial crisis and Western sanctions will force President Vladimir Putin to change policy on the conflict.
Zambian kwacha strengthens after peaceful presidential vote
Lusaka (Reuters) – The Zambian kwacha gained 1.4 percent on Wednesday, a sign of investor confidence following a tight but smooth presidential elections in the southern African economy, where copper accounts for 70 percent of export earnings.
China to abolish arrest, conviction rate targets: state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party will abolish targets for arrests, prosecutions and convictions, state media said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of legal reforms at a time of widening public discontent.
Human Rights Watch says Egypt not serious about improving prison conditions
CAIRO (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch accused Egyptian authorities on Wednesday of failing to take serious steps to improve conditions in overcrowded prisons which are causing deaths.
Myanmar monk’s U.N. whore rant ‘could hurt Buddhism’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Myanmar Buddhist monk who called a U.N. human rights envoy a “whore” has violated his monastic code and could damage his religion, another prominent monk said on Tuesday, but he is unlikely to face censure.
Ukraine says its forces attacked by Russian troops
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was cutting short a foreign trip on Wednesday after Kiev accused Russian regular forces of attacking its troops in the country’s east.
Mongolian model’s Malaysian murderer arrested in Australia
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police have arrested a Malaysian police officer convicted of killing and blowing up a Mongolian model linked with a former associate of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, media reported on Wednesday.
Taiwan says China’s top official to make first trip back since protests
TAIPEI (Reuters) – China’s top official in charge of relations with Taiwan, who was targeted by anti-China protesters who threw paint during his last trip to Taiwan, will visit an outlying Taiwanese island next month, his counterpart in Taipei said on …
U.S. and Cuba sit down for historic talks on restoring ties
HAVANA (Reuters) – The highest-level U.S. delegation to Cuba in 35 years begins talks on Wednesday aimed at restoring diplomatic ties and eventually normalizing relations between two adversaries who have been locked in Cold War-era hostilities.
Ukraine’s Poroshenko to cut short Davos visit: spokesman
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is cutting short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland because of the escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine and will return home on Wednesday, his spokesman, Svyatoslav Tseholko, …
