Stop-start Afghan vote audit gets green light, but troubles remain
KABUL (Reuters) – The mammoth task of auditing eight million votes cast in the second round of Afghanistan’s presidential election will restart on Saturday, the electoral commission said on Thursday, but disputes still hang over the process.
‘Russian involvement’ central to UK inquiry into ex-KGB agent’s death
LONDON (Reuters) – Evidence which shows Russia was behind the 2006 murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London will mostly be given in secret, the chairman of a public inquiry into his death said on Thursday.
China trial of Uighur scholar within weeks, imam reported killed
BEIJING (Reuters) – A prominent ethnic Uighur professor from China’s Xinjiang could be tried on separatism charges within weeks, his lawyer said on Thursday, as a senior pro-government Islamic leader was reported killed in turmoil in the region.
Food supplies cut to rebel stronghold in east Ukraine
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Food supplies have been cut to the rebel stronghold of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine during a military offensive on the city by government forces, local officials said on Thursday.
Moscow fights back after sanctions; battle rages near Ukraine crash site
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – Russia fought back on Wednesday over new U.S. and EU sanctions imposed over Ukraine even as G7 leaders warned of further steps, while Ukraine’s government accused pro-Russian rebels of placing land mines near the site of a crash…
Marine Le Pen could knock out Socialists in French president race: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – French far-right leader Marine Le Pen would reach the final round of a presidential election if voters were to vote now, winning more votes than any mainstream party in the first round, a poll showed on Thursday.
China slams Canada for ‘irresponsible’ hacking accusations
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry accused Canada on Thursday of making irresponsible accusations lacking any credible evidence after Canada singled out Chinese hackers for attacking a key computer network and lodged a protest with Beijing.
China takes step at openness, allows foreigners at defense briefing
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Defence Ministry allowed foreign media for the first time on Thursday to attend its monthly news conference in another step towards increasing transparency, though the briefing yielded little concrete news.
U.N. religion expert concerned over ‘interrupted’ Vietnam visit
HANOI (Reuters) – A U.N. expert expressed worry on Thursday over “serious violations” of religious freedom in Vietnam following a fact-finding mission he said was interrupted by surveillance, harassment and intimidation.
Temporary ceasefire in Tripoli, 75 bodies found in Benghazi
BENGHAZI/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Rival Libyan militias fighting for control of Tripoli’s airport agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Wednesday to allow firefighters to try to control a huge blaze at a fuel depot hit by a rocket.
