Uruguay not seen setting drug liberalisation trend: U.N. official
VIENNA (Reuters) – The United Nations anti-drugs chief said on Friday he did not see – for now at least – Uruguay setting a trend for countries to legalise the cultivation, sale and smoking of marijuana.
Anti-gay laws violate global pacts: U.N. rights chief
GENEVA (Reuters) – A legal ban on same-sex marriage in Nigeria, Africa’s largest country, violates international accords and could bring mob law against gays onto its streets, the United Nations’ human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Friday.
Algerian troops kill seven militants near Tunisian frontier
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algerian troops have killed seven armed militants who crossed the border from neighboring Tunisia, the state news agency APS reported on Friday.
Leaked documents purport to reveal Turkish graft allegations
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Twitter account behind a string of leaks in a Turkish corruption scandal has posted what it presented as prosecution files accusing former government ministers of involvement with an Iranian businessman in a bribery and smuggling…
Al Qaeda splinter group in Syria leaves two provinces: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An al Qaeda splinter group in Syria finished pulling out of two provinces in the country’s northwest on Friday and headed to its eastern strongholds after months of clashes with rival rebels, activists said.
Morocco, Spain break up militant cell sending fighters abroad
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco and Spain made seven arrests and dismantled an Islamist militant cell led by a Spanish citizen that sent fighters to “hotbeds of tension” such as Syria, officials from both countries said on Friday.
Austria holds Ukraine’s Firtash for extradition
VIENNA (Reuters) – An Austrian court ordered Ukrainian industrialist Dmytro Firtash held for possible extradition to the United States and set bail of 125 million euros ($174 million) on Friday, a court statement said.
Bomb on Lebanese border targets Israeli soldiers: military
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An explosive device was detonated against Israeli soldiers patrolling the border with Lebanon on Friday, causing no injuries, Israel’s military said.
Rouhani has not stopped Iran suppressing human rights: U.N. envoy
GENEVA (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani has made only “baby steps” to improve human rights in Iran where forces loyal to the supreme leader are “working to suppress the rights of people,” a United Nations investigator said on Friday.
U.S. hopes Ukraine crisis won’t harm work with Russia on Iran
VIENNA (Reuters) – The United States hopes the escalating crisis in Ukraine will not undermine cooperation with Russia to curb Iran’s nuclear program, a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday.
