Russian draft law would allow seizure of foreign property
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian courts could get the green light to seize foreign assets on Russian territory under a draft law intended as a response to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
Russian lawyer wins Norwegian human rights prize
OSLO (Reuters) – A Norwegian human rights foundation gave its annual prize on Thursday to a Russian lawyer and the legal aid group he heads, for their work defending the right to fair trial.
France to increase security over terrorism threat
PARIS (Reuters) – France said on Thursday it would increase security on transport and in public places after a French tourist was killed in Algeria, and said it was ready to support all states that requested its help to fight terror.
Thai assembly votes itself the power to impeach politicians, sideline critics
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military-dominated legislature gave itself the power to impeach political office holders on Thursday, edging a step closer to rooting out the influence of controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
More than one million Iraqis receiving food aid from WFP
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – More than 1 million Iraqis are now receiving emergency food aid, the World Food Program (WFP) announced this week, and Raed Hamdoon is one of them.
Britain arrests nine in operation against Islamist militants
LONDON (Reuters) – British police arrested nine men as part of an operation into Islamist-related militancy on Thursday, with media reporting the country’s most high-profile radical Muslim preacher was among those held.
China detains two executives at embattled business newspaper
BEIJING (Reuters) – China detained two executives at an embattled financial newspaper company on Thursday, state media reported, as an investigation into bribery at the paper widens.
Afghan election runner-up quells fear of unrest, promises co-operation
KABUL (Reuters) – The runner-up in Afghanistan’s disputed election, Abdullah Abdullah, on Thursday congratulated his rival, Ashraf Ghani, on becoming president, seeking to quell fears of unrest after the two agreed to share power.
Iranian hardliners block Rouhani’s promises of greater freedom
BEIRUT (Reuters) – After a year in office, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has achieved a steady thaw in relations with the West but failed so far to deliver on campaign promises of more freedom at home.
Russian court upholds businessman Yevtushenkov’s house arrest
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Moscow court on Thursday ordered wealthy businessman Vladimir Yevtushenkov to remain under house arrest until Nov. 16, pushing down shares in his company Sistema in a case that has shocked Russian business leaders.
