Hong Kong calls off talks with student activists as city leader investigated
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong called off talks with protesting students on Thursday, dealing a heavy blow to attempts to defuse a political crisis that has seen tens of thousands take to the streets to demand free elections and calling for leader Leu…
Special Report: How Syria policy stalled under the ‘analyst in chief’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Throughout 2012, as signs mounted that militants in Syria were growing stronger, the debate in the White House followed a pattern. In meeting after meeting, as officials from agencies outside the executive residence advocated arming pro-Western rebels or other forms of action, President Barack Obama’s closest White House aides bluntly delivered the president’s verdict: no.
Suicide bombings in Yemen kill 67 after premier quits
SANAA (Reuters) – Suicide bombers targeting Yemen’s powerful Shi’ite Houthi group and an army camp killed at least 67 people in two separate attacks on Thursday, hours after a political crisis forced the new prime minister to step down.
U.S. think-tank says it located possible blast at Iran military site
VIENNA (Reuters) – A U.S. security institute said it has located via satellite imagery a section of a sprawling Iranian military complex where it said an explosion or fire might have taken place earlier this week.
Back to school in rebel east Ukraine – to the sound of bombs and Soviet songs
MAKIYIVKA Ukraine (Reuters) – On the first day of school outside the east Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Donetsk, 11th-grade teacher Yelena Sepik tells her class to get out of their seats to clap and sing along to the Soviet military music playing over …
New star emerges in North Korea amid speculation over Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) – The man in the olive drab uniform and oversized Soviet-style military cap who strode through South Korea’s main airport last week has climbed from an obscure desk job in North Korea to the most powerful position outside the ruling Kim…
Russia says not optimistic over new NATO chief’s remarks
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Statements by NATO’s new chief do not raise hopes of a rapid improvement in relations between Russia and the military alliance, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.
Health officials, doctors arrested in Kosovo bribery investigation
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Nine health officials and doctors in Kosovo were arrested on Thursday under an investigation into private clinics suspected of offering bribes to receive heart surgery patients.
India and Pakistan trade warnings over heavy Kashmir fighting
ARNIA India/MUZAFFARABAD Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan said on Thursday it was capable of responding “befittingly” to Indian border shelling, and warned against an escalation of the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in more than a decade….
Bahrain activist to stand trial on defamation charge
DUBAI (Reuters) – Pro-democracy campaigner Nabeel Rajab, one of the highest profile activists in the Arab world, is to go on trial in Bahrain accused of insulting the Interior and Defence Ministries, his supporters said on Thursday.
