Thai junta to keep tight grip after transfer of power
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military makes way for a new administration in coming weeks, but the generals will keep a tight grip on power by filling an interim cabinet and legislature with soldiers, military sources said on Wednesday.
Russia bans Polish fruit and vegetable in apparent retaliation for sanctions
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia announced a ban on most fruit and vegetable imports from Poland on Wednesday and said it may extend the restrictions to the rest of the European Union, its first apparent retaliation to new Western sanctions imposed over Ukrai…
Exclusive: China’s Xi reached deal with former leaders to investigate ex-security chief: sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – Two influential former Chinese leaders gave their consent for President Xi Jinping to investigate ex-domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, sources told Reuters, a sign the corruption probe will not open a rift in the ruling Communi…
Sierra Leone’s top Ebola doctor dies from virus
FREETOWN (Reuters) – The doctor leading Sierra Leone’s fight against the worst Ebola outbreak on record died from the virus on Tuesday, the country’s chief medical officer said.
France says evacuating nationals in Libya
PARIS (Reuters) – France temporarily closed its embassy in Libya on Wednesday and is evacuating its nationals there due to the worsening security situation, the French Foreign Ministry said.
EU and U.S. announce new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The European Union and the United States on Tuesday announced further sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy, banking and defense sectors in the strongest international action yet over Moscow’s support for rebels…
Turkish women protest against deputy PM’s no laughing comments
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Hundreds of Turkish women posted pictures of themselves laughing on Twitter on Wednesday to protest against comments by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc who had urged women not to laugh in public to “protect moral values”.
Nigeria opens long-awaited battle of ideas against Boko Haram
KADUNA Nigeria (Reuters) – In classrooms facing a sandy courtyard in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, Maska Road Islamic School teaches a creed that condemns the violent ideology of groups like Boko Haram.
Italy’s former communist L’Unita daily to stop publication
ROME (Reuters) – L’Unita, the left-wing daily founded by Antonio Gramsci, one of the fathers of Italian communism, will suspend publication from Friday after its shareholders failed to reach agreement on future strategy, the newspaper said.
African girls to sue British Airways over alleged abuse by pilot
LONDON (Reuters) – Girls and young women who allege they were sexually abused by a British Airways (BA) pilot in African schools and orphanages plan to sue the airline, a law firm representing them said on Wednesday.
