Russian punk band says freed to improve Russia’s image before Olympics
MOSCOW (Reuters) – One of two freed members of punk protest band Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, said on Friday their release was aimed solely at improving Russia’s image before it hosts the Winter Olympic Games and was not a humanitarian gesture.
South Sudan’s Kiir to skip Nairobi crisis talks with African leaders
NAIROBI (Reuters) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has not gone to Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend a meeting of African leaders trying to mediate an end to nearly two weeks of fighting that has killed thousands, a Kenyan official said.
At least eight killed by bomb blast in Somali capital
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – At least eight people were killed in Mogadishu on Friday when a remotely controlled bomb exploded in a busy restaurant in the Somali capital, police official and witnesses said.
Thai crisis deepens as army chief hints at intervention
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s powerful army chief refused on Friday to rule out military intervention to defuse an escalating political crisis, the latest blow for a government determined a February election will go ahead despite deadly clashes with p…
Bomb targets Montenegrin newspaper critical of government
BELGRADE (Reuters) – A bomb blast overnight shook the offices of Montenegro’s leading daily Vijesti in the latest attack on a newspaper known for its criticism of the authorities under the country’s long-term leader Milo Djukanovic.
Bahrain court acquits princess on trial for torturing doctors
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Bahraini court has acquitted two police officers, including a Bahraini princess, who were on trial for torturing doctors while in detention during political turmoil in the Gulf Arab island kingdom in 2011, a lawyer and an activist s…
More Greenpeace activists leave Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Six more of the 30 Greenpeace activists arrested in a protest over Arctic oil drilling left Russia on Friday after being granted an amnesty, the environmental group said.
China media condemns Japan PM for paying homage to ‘devils’
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese newspapers denounced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, describing his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine for Japan’s war dead as paying homage to “devils” and warning that China could crush “provocative militarism”.
Japan gets Okinawa approval for U.S. Marine base move
TOKYO (Reuters) – The governor of Japan’s Okinawa on Friday approved a controversial plan to relocate a U.S. air base to a less populous part of the southern island, but said he would keep pressing to move the base off the island altogether.
Analysis: Japan’s Abe bets U.S. alliance, ratings can weather shrine visit
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to a shrine for war dead outraged China and South Korea, and also upset Washington and his government coalition partner – but he appears confident the alliances and his popularity will not be…
