New U.N. rights boss says in talks with China on Tibet visit
GENEVA (Reuters) – The new United Nations human rights chief said on Thursday at his first media briefing in the job that he wanted to visit Tibet and was talking to Chinese authorities about a trip there.
Greece says is confident, market turmoil not based on fundamentals
ATHENS (Reuters) – Market turmoil in recent days does not reflect the fundamentals of Greece’s economy or its prospects, Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis told parliament on Thursday, saying he was confident the country would follow through on its ple…
Modi magic enchants Indian voters in state elections: exit polls
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to emerge as the largest party in two state legislatures where it has traditionally been weak, exit polls showed, thanks to intense campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Afghanistan arrests son of Haqqani militant network’s founder
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan forces have arrested the son of the feared Haqqani network’s founder along with a militant commander in charge of suicide attacks, a blow to the Taliban-linked Islamist group, Afghanistan’s intelligence service said Thursday.
Thai government sets out measures to aid rubber farmers after price slump
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government announced a series of measures on Thursday to help rubber farmers, who have been hurt by a drop in global prices to five-year lows, but some farmers’ leaders said the policies would do little to support the mar…
China to strengthen auditing of military in battle on graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will toughen audits of its military and target older officers to ensure that corrupt individuals are denied promotion and cannot get away with their crimes, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
Philippines steps up army patrols on island where Germans held
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines on Thursday stepped up army patrols in the jungles of the southern island of Jolo where al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants are holding two Germans captive and are threatening to kill one of them.
Majority of Russians say Western sanctions will help economy: poll
MOSCOW (Reuters) – More than half of Russians believe their economy will benefit from Western economic sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis and from the countermeasures adopted by Moscow, according to an opinion poll published on Thursday.
After soccer row, Serbia says Albania not mature enough for Europe
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s interior minister said on Thursday that Albania was “not mature enough” to join the European community, stepping up a war of words over a drone stunt that forced a soccer match between the Balkan nations to be abandoned.
EU wants smooth evolution of support for Greece after bailout end
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission will work with Greece to ensure there is a smooth evolution of support for the country after its current bailout program ends at the end of this year, the Commission’s spokesman Simon O’Connor said on Thursd…
