Afghan Taliban step up attacks on election officials, voters
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban militants are stepping up efforts to destabilize Afghanistan ahead of next month’s presidential vote, kidnapping election workers and executing villagers at random to scare people off voting, officials and campaigners said.
Madagascar says IMF resumes ties for first time since 2009 coup
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund has resumed normal relations with Madagascar, the country’s finance minister said on Thursday, the first of international donors that froze aid after a 2009 coup following a calm election late la…
Manila to challenge China blockade in South China Sea
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines is planning another challenge of a Chinese naval blockade of a disputed shoal in the South China Sea by sending civilian ships with supplies to its troops stationed there, a senior military official said on Thursday.
In Vatican shake-up, Pope redefines role of second-in-command
Vatican City (Reuters) – When he was elected a year ago, Pope Francis promised to shake up the bureaucracy of the world’s smallest country. He has started at the top – curbing the once-overarching role of the secretary of state.
U.N. sees ‘serious setbacks’ in anti-drugs fight
VIENNA (Reuters) – The global fight against narcotics has suffered serious setbacks, including record opium cultivation in Afghanistan and a surge of trafficking-linked violence in Central America, the U.N. anti-drugs chief said on Thursday.
Two Yemeni soldiers killed as Houthi fighters hit army base
SANAA (Reuters) – Two Yemeni soldiers were killed on Thursday when Shi’ite Muslim Houthi tribal fighters attacked an army base near the capital Sanaa, military sources said.
Indian court rejects Sahara chief’s plea for release from custody
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition by the head of the unlisted Sahara conglomerate to be released from custody and said the matter would next be heard on March 25.
Release of Afghan prisoners exposes root of rift with U.S
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – U.S. military commanders believe Sardar Mohammad is a dangerous Taliban bomb-maker who has attacked foreign and Afghan soldiers. In April last year, U.S. and Afghan forces captured Sardar and placed him in a military p…
Thai PM given more time to defend rice scheme charges
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday gave Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra more time to defend herself against charges of negligence over a ruinous rice subsidy scheme, allegations that could bring her…
Court upholds Delhi rapists’ death sentences
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Four men convicted of raping and murdering a woman in New Delhi had their death sentences upheld on Thursday for a crime that caused a huge public backlash against an entrenched culture of violence against women in India.
