Russian court extends house arrest for Kremlin critic Navalny
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Moscow court on Friday extended a term of house arrest for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on trial for stealing more than 30 million rubles (£317,743), charges he dismisses as part of a campaign by President Vladimir Putin to stifle dissent.
Japanese activist challenges secrets law with whistleblower tool
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese Internet activist and academic is challenging a new state secrets law by setting up a website aimed at making it easier for government officials to leak sensitive information to the media without getting caught.
Kenya’s Kenyatta signs security law despite protests
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Friday he had signed into law anti-terrorism measures approved by parliament despite vocal protests by some opposition lawmakers who cited a threat to civil liberties and free speech.
Russia’s Lavrov criticizes Ukraine statement on neutral status
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized on Friday a statement by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on ending Ukraine’s neutral status as confrontational rhetoric favored by what Russia calls Kiev’s ‘party of war’.
Of $5.4 billion pledged for Gaza, only a fraction delivered
GAZA (Reuters) – Two months after donors pledged $5.4 billion to help rebuild Gaza after the war between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian, U.N. and other officials say barely 2 percent of the money has been transferred.
One million people wounded, diseases spreading in Syria: WHO
BEIRUT (Reuters) – One million people have been wounded during Syria’s civil war and diseases are spreading as regular supplies of medicine fail to reach patients, the World Health Organization’s Syria representative said.
Pakistan to challenge bail for Mumbai attack ‘mastermind’
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani prosecutors are to appeal against a court decision to grant bail to a man accused of plotting a 2008 militant assault in India’s financial capital that killed 166 people and seriously strained ties between the nuclear-ar…
Man drives car into headquarters of Spain’s ruling party
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish businessman drove a car containing gas cylinders into the headquarters of Spain’s ruling People’s Party on Friday, triggering a major police alert, official spokesmen said.
Detained China rights lawyer facing ‘inhuman torment’, wife says
BEIJING (Reuters) – A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer arrested this year has had to endure hours of interrogation and his health has suffered, his wife wrote in a letter released on Friday, calling for his immediate release.
China lodges protest after Obama approves Taiwan frigate sale
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Friday it had lodged a protest with the United States after President Barack Obama signed into law legislation authorizing the sale of up to four Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan.
