Bahrain puts off rights activist’s appeal hearing to March 4
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain has postponed until March 4 a hearing by Nabeel Rajab, one of the Arab world’s most prominent democracy campaigners, on his appeal against a conviction for publicly insulting two state institutions, according to his Twitter a…
China’s Xi says treasures friendship with Vietnam, despite dispute
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday told the head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party he treasured the two nations’ traditional friendship, but disagreements needed careful handling to ensure regional stability amid an ugly di…
African children subject to ‘alarming’ levels of violence
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Children across Africa face unacceptably high levels of physical, sexual and emotional violence at home, at school and in the streets, researchers specializing in children’s rights said on Wednesday.
Malaysia arrests cartoonist for criticizing Anwar verdict judges
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has arrested a cartoonist for sedition over a Twitter post that criticized the judiciary for upholding a five-year jail term for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who accused the courts of “bowing to the dictates of the…
Foreign militants a growing danger on home soil: U.S. envoy
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The danger of foreign fighters and self-radicalized individuals who support Islamic State (IS) mounting attacks in their home countries is growing even as the fight against the militants makes progress, a U.S. official said on Wed…
Obama seeks some limits on ground troops for Islamic State fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will propose to Congress on Wednesday a new three-year authorization for the use of force against Islamic State with limits on U.S. combat troops’ involvement, lawmakers and congressional aides said.
Hong Kong lawmakers urge ban on bitcoin as scam victims turn to police
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday urged authorities to ban bitcoin as more than 25 people flocked to police headquarters to complain over a scam involving the digital currency that media estimate could have duped investors of up to…
Without pressure, business as usual for South Sudan’s ‘bush’ leaders
JUBA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – At the edge of the airport runway in South Sudan’s capital, a pickup truck of red bereted soldiers watched as young girls danced barefoot to welcome President Salva Kiir home from peace talks in Ethiopia.
Minsk talks on Ukraine still ‘very likely’: France’s Fabius
PARIS (Reuters) – A four-way summit in Minsk aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis is still very likely to go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday despite a number of unresolved issues, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
East Timor’s Gusmao to stay in government as investment minister
(Reuters) – East Timor’s independence hero and out-going prime minister Xanana Gusmao will stay in the cabinet as investment minister, the government said on Wednesday, raising questions about the independence of the new prime minister.
