EU seeks compromise with Russia over Ukraine free-trade pact
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The EU will offer Russia more time to adjust to a European trade pact with Ukraine, diplomats say, moving to ease bilateral tensions over an accord at the center of the crisis in Ukraine as a ceasefire there takes hold.
Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch accused Israel of committing war crimes by attacking three U.N.-run schools in the Gaza Strip in fighting in July and August, killing Palestinian civilians who had sheltered there.
Thai junta tells rights group to ‘get its facts straight’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s ruling junta urged Amnesty International to “get its facts straight” after the human rights group issued a scathing appraisal of 100 days under military rule.
Nearly two thirds of French want Hollande to quit: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – Nearly two thirds of French voters would like to see their deeply unpopular Socialist president, Francois Hollande, resign before the end of his term in 2017, a poll showed on Thursday.
Philippines displays ancient maps to debunk China’s sea claims
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines on Thursday put on display dozens of ancient maps which officials said showed that China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea did not include a disputed shoal at the centre of an acrimonious standoff.
Gunmen kill four in troubled Thai south
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Gunmen stormed a government office in southern Thailand on Thursday, killing four people in an attack police blamed on Muslim separatists whose low-level insurgency has caused thousands of deaths in the past decade.
Ukraine says Russia withdrawing forces from east, sees boost for peace
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s president said on Wednesday Russia had removed the bulk of its forces from his country, raising hopes for a peace drive now underway after five months of conflict in which more than 3,000 people have been killed.
Myanmar lifts curfew in violence-racked state capital
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar on Thursday lifted a curfew imposed in June 2012 when clashes between Buddhists and minority Muslims erupted throughout western Rakhine state, killing at least 192 people that year.
Putin orders combat readiness checks for troops in Russia’s east
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has ordered snap checks of troops’ combat readiness in Russia’s far east, the latest in a series of military drills this year as tensions have mounted over the crisis in Ukraine.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni
Rebel-turned-statesman Museveni is one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, securing the presidency in 1986 after leading troops through the bush to oust Milton Obote and declaring that his presidency was “not a mere change of guard” from one strongman…
