Iran defends refusal to let in U.N. nuclear expert
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran has dismissed criticism by the International Atomic Energy Agency of its refusal earlier this year to let one IAEA expert into the country as part of a team investigating allegations of nuclear weapons research.
Tanzania court frees opposition MP on bail after protest
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – A court in Tanzania granted bail to an opposition member of parliament on Wednesday and eight others after charging them with illegal protests for demonstrating last week against a draft constitution.
South Korea indicts Japanese journalist for defaming President
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean prosecutors indicted a Japanese journalist on Wednesday for defamation of President Park Geun-hye over an article he wrote about her personal life and whereabouts on the day of a deadly ferry disaster in April.
Egypt, Libya announce deeper security cooperation to ‘fight terrorism’
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt will train Libyan forces to fight terrorism and help secure a shared border, the prime ministers of the two states announced in Cairo on Wednesday, stepping up efforts against Islamist insurgents in both countries.
Death rate 10 a day in east Ukraine despite ceasefire: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The conflict in eastern Ukraine is still claiming about 10 lives a day among government troops, pro-Russian separatists and civilians despite a ceasefire agreed in early September, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Venezuela’s ‘Chavismo’ risks implosion, dissident faction warns
CARACAS (Reuters) – The socialist movement built by Venezuela’s former president Hugo Chavez risks imploding if corruption, inefficiency and an economic crisis are not tamed, a dissenting faction of the ruling Socialist Party says.
‘Crackdown or climbdown’: Hong Kong protesters face stark choices
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Student protesters galvanized Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement with their energy and ideological zeal, bringing tens of thousands of people on to the streets in a show of defiance against Beijing.
Afghanistan hangs five men over gang rape, despite concerns of rights groups
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan hanged five men on Wednesday over a gang rape that had shocked the country, officials said, despite requests from human rights groups for new President Ashraf Ghani to stay the executions to address concerns about the hand…
Crime, media restrictions limit Balkan progress to EU: report
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Balkan countries seeking to join the European Union must do more to tackle organized crime and corruption, the European Commission said on Wednesday, while also urging Serbia to safeguard press freedoms.
In Tunisia, old regime figures make a comeback
TUNIS (Reuters) – At Tunis airport arrivals terminal last month, hundreds of Tunisians gathered waving flags to greet a special guest — not a sports legend or popstar, but a former minister from ousted President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s government.
