Dissident warns China sending spies to U.S. in scholarly guise
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A prominent Chinese dissident who moved to the United States after being fired by Peking University last year warned on Thursday of the dangers of academic exchanges with China, saying Beijing sent spies as visiting scholars.
World Bank postpones Uganda loan over anti-gay law
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The World Bank on Thursday postponed a $90 million loan to Uganda’s health system over a law that toughened punishment for gays, an unusual move for an institution that typically avoids wading into politics.
Syria says two attempted attacks on chemical weapons convoys: U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – There were two attempted attacks on Syrian convoys transporting chemical weapons late last month, Syrian authorities told the international mission overseeing the removal and destruction of its toxic arsenal, according to a U…
Armed standoff in pro-Russian region raises Ukraine tension
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – The United States told Russia to demonstrate in coming days that it was sincere about its promise not to intervene in Ukraine, after armed men seized the regional parliament in a mainly ethnic Russian region and raised t…
Colombia ELN rebels admit attack on leftist candidate, apologize
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The National Liberation Army, Colombia’s second-biggest guerrilla group, admitted on Thursday it was behind an attack last weekend on a leftist presidential candidate but said it was returning fire after being shot at first.
Exiled former Cuban rebel who broke with Castro dead at 95
MIAMI (Reuters) – Huber Matos, a former Cuban revolutionary who fought alongside Fidel Castro, but later turned against him and was jailed before going into exile, died in Miami early Thursday aged 95.
Baghdad motorbike blast, other attacks kill 52 in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 52 people were killed Wednesday as a motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated in Baghdad’s Sadr City and militants targeted mostly Shi’ite neighborhoods around the country.
Mexican president ‘indignant’ at U.S. deportations
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said he is “indignant” at the United States’ deportation of Mexican migrants and described U.S. lawmakers as demonstrating a “lack of conscience” in failing to pass immigration reform.
Cyprus parliament rejects state sell-offs required for aid
NICOSIA (Reuters) – International aid to cash-starved Cyprus was thrown into turmoil on Thursday after its parliament rejected a privatization plan, throwing into disarray the disbursement of a new tranche of financial assistance next month.
Carnival holiday may take heat out of Venezuela crisis
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelans began a week-long national holiday on Thursday as some protests still simmered but President Nicolas Maduro’s government was hoping the break will take the heat out of the nation’s worst unrest for a decade.
