Bahrain bans three clerics from preaching; opposition condemns move
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain has banned three Muslim clerics from preaching in mosques, accusing them of violating the “ethics and principles of religious discourse”, in what opposition activists said was part of a crackdown on dissent.
Czechs call for EU farm ministers to discuss response to Russia sanctions
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic will call for a meeting of European Union farm ministers to discuss ways to mitigate the impact of Russian ban on imports of European food products, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Friday.
Chinese activists push for safer factories after blast
HONG KONG (Reuters) – More than a dozen Chinese labor rights groups are circulating a petition pushing for safer factory working conditions, in a bid to capitalize on public anger over the worst industrial accident in more than year.
China detains man for spreading panic on WeChat: state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have detained someone for the first time for spreading panic on mobile messaging app WeChat, state media said on Friday, hours after China imposed new rules on instant messaging tools.
Italy Senate approves first reading of constitutional reform
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian Senate on Friday approved a first reading of a highly contested constitutional reform, drawing a line under a draining parliamentary battle which had absorbed government attention while pressure grew for faster action on th…
Cambodia political foes vow to honor truce as lawmakers return
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Opposition lawmakers returned to Cambodia’s parliament on Friday after a year-long boycott and vowed along with the ruling party to bury the hatchet and work for the country after a bitter dispute over an election last year.
Erdogan poised to win Turkey’s first popular presidential vote
ANKARA (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan is set to secure his place in history as Turkey’s first popularly-elected president on Sunday, but his tightening grip on power has polarized the nation, worried Western allies and raised fears of creeping authoritaria…
Parents of India rape victim decry fashion shoot that evokes attack
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – An Indian fashion shoot depicting a woman being sexually assaulted on a bus has stirred memories of the fatal gang rape of a young woman in 2012, outraging the victim’s parents and activists who have demanded ac…
China frees prominent lawyer who defended religious freedom
BEIJING (Reuters) – China freed a prominent human rights lawyer after three years in prison on Thursday, his brother told Reuters, ending the latest period of detention for the religious-freedom campaigner whose treatment attracted international condem…
Ukraine says ceasefire at MH17 crash site still in force
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s government said on Friday the ceasefire with separatist rebels at the crash site of Malaysian airliner MH17 was still in force despite an announcement that it would be suspended until recovery work there resumed.
