Russia’s relations with Hungary warm as ties with West chill
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin hailed Hungary as one of Russia’s most important partners on Wednesday, giving his seal of approval to a budding relationship with a Soviet-era ally that is worrying some of its European Union allies.
Burkina Faso names army colonel Zida as prime minister
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, four days after he restored the country’s constitution under pressure from the African Union and the West.
Bahrain releases pro-democracy activist awaiting trial
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini authorities released pro-democracy activist Zainab al-Khawaja from detention on Wednesday, her lawyer and sister said, as she awaits trial over a charge of insulting Bahrain’s king by tearing up his picture.
Colombian soccer club laundered money for drug cartel: U.S. Treasury
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian soccer club Envigado helped launder money for a drug trafficking group, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday, blacklisting the team under the anti-crime Kingpin Act.
Swiss protesters to stop lobbying annual Davos Economic Forum
GENEVA (Reuters) – Anti-corporate activists declared moral victory over the annual Davos World Economic Forum of global business and political leaders on Wednesday and said they would no longer lobby there after the next meeting in January.
Weary Italy vents its rage in spate of strikes and protest
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s social fabric is fraying. People worn down by years of economic stagnation and austerity are suddenly giving vent to their frustrations with a spate of strikes and spontaneous protests which have taken politicians by surprise.
Britain says not optimistic about Iran nuclear deal by deadline
RIGA (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Wednesday he was not optimistic that world powers and Iran would clinch a full nuclear deal by Nov. 24 but that there may be a way of extending the self-imposed deadline.
Serb’s release by U.N. court frees nationalist genie, Croat leader warns
ZAGREB (Reuters) – Croatia’s president urged neighboring Serbia on Wednesday to “stop the escalation of nationalism and hatred” following the release of a hardline Serbian nationalist leader from a United Nations war crimes court.
Scuffles break out as students protest in central London
LONDON (Reuters) – Scuffles broke out and missiles were thrown at police as thousands of students marched through the center of London on Wednesday to protest against a rise in higher education fees.
Putin greets new U.S. envoy with demand not to interfere
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin greeted the new U.S. ambassador to Russia on Wednesday with a demand for Washington to treat Moscow as an equal partner and stay out of its internal affairs.
