Germany to watch U.S. agents after spy scandal
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany will step up its counter-espionage activity against some of its allies, government sources said on Thursday, after Berlin opened investigations into two men it suspects of spying for the United States.
Russia concerned by U.S. proposal for missile shield in South Korea
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia voiced concern on Thursday over a U.S. proposal to station elements of a missile defense shield in South Korea, saying the move could provoke an arms race in the region.
Ex-Murdoch reporter escapes jail over UK phone-hacking crimes
LONDON (Reuters) – A former tabloid reporter who admitted hacking hundreds of phones to find stories for two Sunday newspapers was spared jail on Thursday for helping secure the conviction of Prime Minister David Cameron’s ex-media chief Andy Coulson.
Death row Christian woman flies out of Sudan
ROME/KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese woman who was spared a death sentence for converting from Islam to Christianity and then barred from leaving Sudan flew into Rome on Thursday in an Italian government plane. Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, whose sentence and …
Taiwan launches inquiry into plane crash that killed 48
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan authorities launched an investigation on Thursday into the crash of a TransAsia Airways turboprop plane in which 48 people were killed with the weather expected to be a factor in the inquiry.
Russia says will cooperate with MH17 probe led by Netherlands
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Russia will cooperate with the investigation into the downing of a Malaysian airliner a week ago and is satisfied that the Netherlands, rather than Ukraine, is leading the effort, the country’s ambassador to Malaysia said on Th…
Islamists planning imminent attack in Norway: police
OSLO (Reuters) – Militant Islamists with fighting experience in Syria may be planning an attack in Norway in the coming days, police said on Thursday, as they deployed armed units at borders, airports and railway stations.
Two Finnish aid workers killed in western Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – Two Finnish aid workers with an international Christian organization were shot dead on Thursday in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat, officials said.
U.N. panel tells Japan to compensate ‘comfort women’
GENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights agency is calling on Japan to guarantee independent investigations of wartime sex slavery and provide a public apology and compensation to the women who were victims.
U.N. rights body criticizes Ireland on abortion, church homes
DUBLIN (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights panel has told Ireland it should revise its highly restrictive abortion laws and that allegations of abuse of women and children at Catholic-run homes must be better investigated.