Egyptian judge jails democracy activist for three years for ‘insulting court’
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian pro-democracy activist Ahmed Douma was sentenced to three years in jail on Tuesday after he accused the judge of bias and denounced his trial on charges of violence against the state as political.
U.N. Syria envoy denies Aleppo truce plan would benefit Assad
GAZIANTEP, Turkey (Reuters) – The U.N. peace envoy to Syria on Tuesday rejected suggestions that a proposed truce in the northern city of Aleppo would play into President Bashar al-Assad’s hands, saying it was a stepping stone in a political process an…
Bomb blast kills nine in bus in southern Philippines
Manila (Reuters) – An explosion ripped through a commuter bus in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding 17, security officials said, blaming the attack on a splinter group of Muslim rebels.
Persecution of Pakistan’s religious minorities intensifies, says report
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Violence and discrimination against Pakistan’s religious minorities such as Ahmadis, Christians and Hindus have intensified to a level where many live in daily fear of violence or harassment, a report by rights …
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe expected to name new cabinet: sources
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has fired his deputy Joice Mujuru, days after she lost her post in the ruling party, and is expected to name a new cabinet on Tuesday, two government sources told Reuters.
Netanyahu makes cost-of-living promise ahead of Israeli election
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – In nearly nine years as Israel’s prime minister spread over three terms, Benjamin Netanyahu has been a security hawk, promising to do whatever it takes to combat the threat from Palestinian militants or a nuclear-armed Iran.
Ukraine, on anti-graft drive, mulls selling stakes in state firms
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine will conduct audits of state companies with a view to selling stakes on international markets, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Tuesday, as part of the new government’s drive to reform corrupt and inefficient state insti…
Turkey rebuffs EU criticism on waning foreign policy alignment
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey hit back on Tuesday at European Union accusations that it has drifted apart from the bloc on foreign policy, saying Ankara had been kept out of decision-making despite making major contributions to EU defense.
Shaky grip on northern road as Iraq pushes advance against IS
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – From somewhere, a sniper opened fire on the seven battle-scarred Humvees of Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi’s convoy as they rode on a crater-pocked highway. The convoy’s gunners replied with volleys of fire. The driver…
Greek PM names former EU commissioner as presidential nominee
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s government named a respected former EU commissioner, Stavros Dimas, on Tuesday as its candidate for president in a crucial vote in parliament this month that could trigger an early general election.
