Central African Republic advances election as U.S. envoy calls for justice
BANGUI (Reuters) – Authorities in Central African Republic vowed on Thursday to bring forward elections meant to turn the page on a March coup, as a visiting U.S. envoy said those responsible for months of violence must be brought to justice.
Yanukovich offers Ukraine protesters nothing as Russian aid starts
KIEV (Reuters) – A $15 billion Russian aid package for Ukraine began to take shape on Thursday as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich went public in defense of the deal, but offered no concessions to persuade thousands of protesters to leave the stre…
Secret detentions fuel Syrian ‘campaign of terror’: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian activists and other citizens have vanished into secret detention as part of a “widespread campaign of terror against the civilian population” and a tactic of war by the Damascus government, U.N. investigators said on Thursday….
ICC prosecutor seeks postponement of Kenyan president’s trial
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court said on Thursday they did not have enough evidence to proceed with their case against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and asked judges to postpone it indefinitely.
Plaque honoring Soviet leader Brezhnev restored in Moscow
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A plaque commemorating late Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev was restored to the facade of his former apartment building on Thursday, a sign of nostalgia in line with President Vladimir Putin’s calls to respect all aspects of Russian hi…
Troops clash in South Sudan, African states mediate
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese government troops battled to regain control of a flashpoint town and sent forces to quell fighting in a vital oil producing area on Thursday, the fifth day of a conflict that has deepened ethnic divisions in the two-year…
France expands Internet, phone monitoring powers
PARIS (Reuters) – France expanded the government’s powers to monitor phone and Internet connection data without judicial review as a last-minute opposition attempt to block the move failed to gather support.
The young, business-savvy pretender to Brazil’s throne
RECIFE/BRASILIA (Reuters) – To some Brazilians, especially in the business world, Eduardo Campos has all the traits of a perfect president.
Iran and Russia helping Syrian aid effort: European officials
GENEVA (Reuters) – Iran and Russia have used their influence on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government to get visas for U.N. aid workers and improve access for convoys in Syria, but much remains to be done, senior European officials told Reuters…
Bulgarian police makes arrests in suspected arms smuggling ring
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian police have arrested two Bulgarians and a Swedish citizen suspected of involvement in trafficking arms, possibly for use in contract killings in Western Europe, the interior ministry said on Thursday.