Myanmar monks lead protest decrying U.N. envoy’s visit
YANGON (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters led by Buddhist monks rallied in Myanmar on Friday to denounce a visit by a human rights envoy of the United Nations, which has urged the government to grant citizenship to persecuted Rohingya Muslims.
Hong Kong student leaders report to police over democracy protests
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Four Hong Kong student leaders were released without charge on Friday after assisting police with an ongoing investigation into more than two months of pro-democracy protests that paralyzed parts of the Asia financial center.
Saudi Arabia postpones activist’s flogging: source
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has postponed Friday’s public flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi on medical grounds, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Pakistan bans Haqqani network after security talks with Kerry
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan has outlawed the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, officials said on Friday, days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government to fight groups that threaten Afghan, Indian and U.S….
Sri Lanka names ex-diplomat as governor of northern former war zone
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s new leader, Maithripala Sirisena, has named a former diplomat as governor of the northern province, replacing a retired military officer in a bid to forge reconciliation with ethnic minority Tamils after the end of a 26-…
Food enters Syria’s besieged Homs city after local deal: U.N.
GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.N. aid workers have started delivering food to tens of thousands of people trapped in a besieged district of Homs city in Syria following negotiations with warring parties, officials said on Friday.
Swedish minister says Israel irritating allies over Palestine recognition
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s foreign minister said on Friday Israel had irritated close allies by over-reacting to Stockholm recognizing the state of Palestine, saying its rhetoric over the issue had “crossed all limits”.
Six Ukrainian soldiers killed, fighting rages at airport: Kiev officials
KIEV (Reuters) – Six Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in attacks by separatists in the past 24 hours, the Kiev military said on Friday as fighting raged at the international airport in the big eastern city of Donetsk.
China graft crackdown ensnares senior spy chief
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is investigating one of its top spy chiefs for corruption, the ruling Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog said on Friday, signaling that the boldest crackdown on corruption in decades has spilled over into its powerful intel…
With Pope’s ear, Philippines president rebukes clergy over hair joke
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Friday lashed out against vocal clergy in the mostly Catholic country who have spoken out against everything from a controversial contraceptive law to his hair, or lack of it.
