Global arms sales fall, Russia sales rise sharply in 2012
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Russian firms increased weapons sales sharply in 2012 helped largely by a Kremlin armaments program, while global sales of arms and military services by private companies fell for a second straight year, data from the Stockholm In…
Beaten Ukrainian activist appears on TV, says was “crucified”
KIEV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian anti-government activist who disappeared a week ago appeared on television on Friday, his face badly beaten and with wounds to his hands, saying he was kidnapped and tortured by his abductors who had “crucified” him.
Tsvangirai urged to quit as Zimbabwe opposition leader
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai faced more pressure to quit when party chiefs debated on Friday whether to call an early party congress to decide the future of a man who has lost three presidential polls.
Thai polling stations might close if violence mars election
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai authorities might close polling booths if violence erupts during Sunday’s disputed election, which would further undermine the credibility of a vote that is deemed incapable of restoring stability in the polarized country.
U.S. cancels funds for Afghan opinion polls ahead of election
KABUL (Reuters) – The United States has canceled funding for opinion polls in the run-up to Afghanistan’s presidential election after an initial poll in December triggered accusations of U.S. attempts to manipulate the outcome, officials said.
UK’s Sellafield plant detects elevated levels of radioactivity
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s biggest nuclear reprocessing plant said on Friday it had detected raised levels of radioactivity and ordered all non-essential staff to stay at home.
Exclusive: Bloomberg tapped to be U.N. cities, climate change envoy: sources
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been tapped to be U.N. special envoy for cities and climate change, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.
FAA downgrades India’s aviation safety ranking: report
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded India’s aviation safety ranking, which means Indian carriers cannot increase flights to the United States and face additional checks for existing flights, the Mint news…
Insight: Surge in cocaine trade undermines Conde’s bid to revive Guinea
CONAKRY (Reuters) – A surge in cocaine trafficking has transformed Guinea into West Africa’s latest drug hot spot, jeopardizing President Alpha Conde’s efforts to rebuild state institutions after a military coup and attract billion of dollars in mining…
Indonesia’s trade minister resigns to focus on presidential campaign
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said on Friday he had resigned, effective immediately, to focus on his campaign to win the presidential nomination for the ruling Democratic Party.
