Cyprus approves privatizations needed for bailout
NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus’s parliament approved plans for privatizations on Tuesday, averting a showdown with international lenders who insist on state selloffs as part of a 10 billion-euro ($13.77 billion) bailout.
Vietnam jails ex-journalist over anti-government blog
HANOI (Reuters) – A court in Vietnam sentenced a former journalist to two years in prison on Tuesday for speaking out against the country’s communist rulers, a verdict the United States expressed deep concern over and called to be overturned.
Powers to give Lebanon military, economic boost against Syria spillover
PARIS (Reuters) – France is preparing to seal a multi-billion-dollar plan to help modernize Lebanon’s armed forces as part of international efforts to stabilize a country hard hit by spillover from Syria’s civil war next door.
Court bans activities of Islamist Hamas in Egypt
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court on Tuesday banned all activities of Hamas in Egypt in a further sign that Cairo’s military-backed government aims to squeeze the Palestinian Islamist group that rules neighboring Gaza, regarding it as a security thre…
Where West failed, people power spurs change in Bosnia
MOSTAR/SARAJEVO (Reuters) – The front line in Mostar during the Bosnian war ran north-south, along a road parallel with the emerald waters of the Neretva River. Catholic Croats held the west and Muslim Bosniaks the east, much as they do today.
Turkey’s Gul orders auditors to assess capacity to fight corruption
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Abdullah Gul ordered state auditors on Tuesday to assess Turkey’s ability to combat corruption, including in the construction sector, amid a graft investigation that has implicated senior elected officials.
Delhi women’s hotline at risk from cash woes, political turmoil
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A 24-hour hotline for women in India’s capital, launched shortly after a fatal gang rape sparked nationwide protests in December 2012, is at risk of closing due to a lack of funds and political upheaval, its head said on Tuesday.
Thailand may extend state of emergency despite scaled-back protest
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A state of emergency in Bangkok could be extended until anti-government protests end completely, Thailand’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, adding that he feared more violence even though calm has returned to the capital in the pa…
China paper in rare mention of former security chief, hints at graft case
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A state-run Chinese newspaper has for the first time identified former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang as the father of a businessman who is being investigated for graft and implied that Zhou himself is also under investigati…
Rebels ambush U.N vehicle in eastern Congo
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Five U.N. peacekeepers were injured when rebels ambushed their vehicle in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, the U.N. mission in the country said.
