Leader of Latvia’s Russian-speakers fears sanctions backfiring
RIGA (Reuters) – It’s not so much the risk of conflict with Russia that worries the mayor of the Latvian capital Riga; it’s the threat to jobs and investment as EU sanctions on Moscow rebound on the economy of the Baltic state.
Thai police arrest man for procuring boys for suspected American pedophile
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Thai police working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation have arrested a man for procuring more than 100 boys over the past three years for an alleged American pedophile in northern Thailand, police said …
Philippines to buy two C130 transport planes from U.S. Navy
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine military on Friday signed a pact with the U.S. Navy to buy two secondhand C-130 transport planes to boost its capability to fan out quickly for territorial defense and humanitarian operations.
Seven U.N. peacekeepers wounded in northern Mali attack
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Seven U.N. peacekeepers were wounded by a blast that hit their vehicle near the airport in the northern Malian town of Kidal on Friday, the latest in a string of attacks on foreign forces.
Bangladesh clamps down on opposition amid violent clashes
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh has stepped up a crackdown on the main opposition party, arresting its vice-president amid anti-government protests that have left seven dead and injured hundreds.
North Korea rejects call from South’s parliament for talks
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea rejected on Friday a South Korean call for the resumption of stalled talks, a setback for efforts to reduce tension on the peninsula after the North Korean leader made a surprise New Year call for a summit.
Danish newspaper says won’t print Prophet cartoons
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which angered Muslims by publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad 10 years ago, will not republish Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons due to security concerns, the only major Danish newspaper not to do …
Polish post-Communist premier Oleksy dies aged 68
WARSAW (Reuters) – Jozef Oleksy, who as a senior Polish civil servant helped to negotiate the end of Communist rule in 1989 and later became prime minister of a democratic Poland, died on Friday aged 68, a party spokeswoman said.
Thai assembly begins impeachment hearing against former PM Yingluck
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s parliament began an impeachment hearing against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday that could lead to her being banned from politics for five years and stoke tension in the divided country.
Syria’s al Qaeda attacks besieged Shi’ite villages
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and other Sunni Muslim militants fought during the night to capture two Shi’ite villages in the country’s north but were repelled, activists on both sides of the war and a monitoring group said…
