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.
Putin dismisses critic Kasparov’s political skills
NOVOCHEBOKSARSK Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned Garry Kasparov’s skills as a politician on Thursday after the former world chess champion described him as the most dangerous man in the world.
Iran refused to let in U.S. member of U.N. nuclear team: sources
VIENNA (Reuters) – A United Nations atomic agency official recently denied entry into Iran as part of a team investigating suspected bomb research is believed to be an American nuclear weapons expert, diplomatic sources said.
Palestinian PM convenes first unity government meeting in Gaza
GAZA (Reuters) – Palestinian technocrat prime minister Rami Hamdallah arrived in the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip on Thursday and convened the first meeting of a unity government there since a brief civil war in 2007 between Hamas and forces loyal to the…
No sanctions relief for Russia until forces leave Ukraine: U.S. diplomat
BERLIN (Reuters) – A senior U.S. diplomat said on Thursday there should be no sanctions relief for Russia until all foreign forces and equipment have left Ukraine, Kiev’s sovereignty over its border has been restored and all hostages have been released…
