Ukraine leader, defying West, signs laws against protests
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday signed into force a set of tough new laws that would ban virtually all forms of anti-government protests despite an outcry from Western governments which have criticized them as anti-demo…
Rwanda asks for U.N. report on Congo sanctions to be dismissed
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Rwanda asked a U.N. Security Council sanctions committee on Friday to dismiss a report that says the defeated M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo are still recruiting fighters in Rwanda and Congolese troops are involve…
Mexico says Pacific trade talks could conclude by April
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – An ambitious trade pact being negotiated among Pacific Rim nations could be concluded as soon as April, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Friday.
Exclusive: Russia steps up military lifeline to Syria’s Assad – sources
LONDON (Reuters) – In recent weeks Russia has stepped up supplies of military gear to Syria, including armored vehicles, drones and guided bombs, boosting President Bashar al-Assad just as rebel infighting has weakened the insurgency against him, sourc…
Taliban kill three TV station staff in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Taliban gunmen killed three men working for a private television station in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi on Friday, the station and the Islamist militant group said.
Wife of Indian minister found dead in hotel room after Twitter row
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – The wife of an Indian government minister was found dead in a New Delhi hotel room on Friday, police said, days after she was involved in a row with a Pakistani woman journalist over Twitter.
Cameraman freed in Egypt says authorities mistook him for Jazeera staff
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian cameraman arrested this week filming for the Associated Press (AP) was released on Friday, the news agency said, adding that authorities appeared to have mistaken him for an employee of Al Jazeera television.
Kerry insists no place for Assad in Syria’s future
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry insisted on Friday that President Bashar al-Assad has no place in Syria’s future and he said the United States had options to step up pressure on him.
Lebanon’s Hariri says could share power with Hezbollah
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri says he is now ready to share power with his rivals Hezbollah if that’s what it takes to help Lebanon finally form a government after nine months of political deadlock.
Turkey seizes assets of opposition party’s mayoral candidate
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish authorities seized the assets of Mustafa Sarigul, the main opposition party CHP’s candidate for Istanbul mayor, an official said on Friday, ahead of a crucial local election due to take place in March.
