Ex-KGB spy Litvinenko told UK police Putin ordered his death
LONDON (Reuters) – Ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died three months after drinking tea poisoned with a radioactive isotope, told British police that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind his killing, an inquiry heard on Tuesday.
China says 15 Communist Party leaders in Tibet guilty of graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese anti-graft authorities found 15 senior Communist Party officials in Tibet guilty of corruption last year and punished them, the state-owned China News Service said on Tuesday.
Africans may mandate regional force against Boko Haram this week
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The African Union (AU) might grant a mandate as early as this week for a regional military force to combat Islamist Boko Haram militants, a vital step towards securing U.N. Security Council backing, a diplomat said on Tuesday.
Two rockets from Syria strike Israeli-occupied Golan: Israeli military
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – At least two rockets from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday and Israel returned fire, the military said, nine days after an Israeli air strike in Syria killed an Iranian general and several Lebanese Hezbollah…
Dominican Republic moves to ease abortion ban, challenges remain: rights group
BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A presidential decision to ease the Dominican Republic’s ban on abortion is a landmark victory for women’s rights, but ensuring women can access legal and potentially life-saving abortions remains a challenge, a ri…
Houthis have released kidnapped Yemen aide, sources say
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen’s Houthi movement has freed the presidential chief of staff, whom it seized on Jan. 17 during a power struggle with then President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Houthi official Ali al-Quhoom and two government officials said on Tuesda…
Syria raises fuel prices to snuff out black market, soothe unrest
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syria has raised fuel prices, cutting back on lavish subsidies, to quell a thriving black market that has led to anti-corruption protests in areas of strong government support.
Spanish judge charges 10 Catholic priests with child sexual abuse
MADRID (Reuters) – Ten Spanish priests were charged with child sexual abuse on Tuesday, in a case brought after Pope Francis telephoned the victim to offer the Church’s apology, court documents showed.
Canada’s new anti-terror bill to fill legal gaps: safety minister
OTTAWA (Reuters) – New legislation being put forward by the Canada’s Conservative government is designed to close gaps in existing laws that enable people considered terror threats to evade authorities, the country’s public safety minister said on Tues…
Child ritual killings spread alarm, anger in Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – At least 21 children have been kidnapped in Ivory Coast since December and most have been found dead with their bodies mutilated, authorities said, in a wave of ritual killings some residents fear may be linked to upcoming elections…
