‘Crackdown or climbdown’: Hong Kong protesters face stark choices
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Student protesters galvanized Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement with their energy and ideological zeal, bringing tens of thousands of people on to the streets in a show of defiance against Beijing.
Afghanistan hangs five men over gang rape, despite concerns of rights groups
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan hanged five men on Wednesday over a gang rape that had shocked the country, officials said, despite requests from human rights groups for new President Ashraf Ghani to stay the executions to address concerns about the hand…
Crime, media restrictions limit Balkan progress to EU: report
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Balkan countries seeking to join the European Union must do more to tackle organized crime and corruption, the European Commission said on Wednesday, while also urging Serbia to safeguard press freedoms.
In Tunisia, old regime figures make a comeback
TUNIS (Reuters) – At Tunis airport arrivals terminal last month, hundreds of Tunisians gathered waving flags to greet a special guest — not a sports legend or popstar, but a former minister from ousted President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s government.
EU chastises Turkey over interference in courts, freedom of speech
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union reprimanded EU candidate Turkey on Wednesday for political meddling in the judiciary, saying a response to a government corruption scandal has harmed the independence of the judiciary and weakened civil rights.
Prosecutors ‘failed’ to prove case against Kenya’s president: attorney
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – A defence attorney for President Uhuru Kenyatta called on judges at the International Criminal Court to throw out allegations of crimes against humanity, saying prosecutors had “failed” to prove their case after five years of inve…
Hezbollah says border attack was message to Israel
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An attack by Hezbollah on Lebanon’s border with Israel which wounded two Israeli soldiers was a message that the group remained ready to confront its old foe despite its engagement in Syria’s civil war, the group’s deputy leader said…
Allies deny Slovenian EU nominee has withdrawn
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Allies of Alenka Bratusek, the former Slovenian prime minister, denied she had withdrawn her candidacy to be EU vice president for energy union in the incoming European Commission.
Only three political prisoners among thousands released in Myanmar
YANGON (Reuters) – Only three political prisoners were among thousands of people granted amnesty by the Myanmar government this week and rights group said the release was apparently aimed at improving the country’s image before a visit by the U.S. pres…
Greek lawmakers to start confidence debate, vote expected on Friday
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek lawmakers will begin debating on Wednesday whether to back Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s government, which has promised an early exit from the country’s EU/IMF bailout, with a confidence vote expected late on Friday.
