China’s defense minister urges tighter security on southern border
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s defense minister urged the military to step up border security during a tour of Yunnan province which abuts Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, in comments that underscore government jitters over the southwest region’s stability.
U.N. watchdog seeks to advance Iran nuclear inquiry in talks
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iran began talks on Monday ahead of a deadline later this week for Tehran to provide information about the development of detonators that can be used to help set off an atomic device.
Arrests, corruption probe, cast cloud over Italy’s Expo 2015
MILAN (Reuters) – The arrest of seven managers and ex-members of parliament over alleged attempts to influence public tenders for Milan’s Expo 2015 has cast a shadow over Italy’s plans to stage an international showcase event and help kick-start the ec…
South Sudan president says planned 2015 election to be delayed
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan will postpone a presidential election set for 2015 as the country’s warring factions will need time to reconcile, President Salva Kiir said, with a vote possibly taking place as late as 2018.
UK needs new watchdog for its spies, ex-MI6 chief says
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain should create a new body to oversee its intelligence agencies to reassure the public after revelations from ex-U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the former head of the British foreign intelligence service said on M…
Turkish PM signals to intensify state purge ahead of expected presidential bid
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, expected to run for president in August, has signaled that he will intensify a purge of state institutions to curb the influence of an Islamic cleric he accuses of trying to topple him.
European rights body presses Georgia on justice system, tolerance
TBILISI (Reuters) – A European human rights monitor urged Georgia on Monday to improve its justice system, promote tolerance and avoid the selective prosecution of officials who served former president Mikheil Saakashvili.
Exclusive: U.N. experts’ report shows Iran’s deceptive procurement tactics
VIENNA (Reuters) – A confidential new report by a U.N. panel highlights Iran’s methods of evading sanctions – from concealing titanium tubes inside steel pipes to using its petrochemical industry as a cover to obtain items for a heavy-water nuclear rea…
Tax cheat Hoeness wants different jail due security fears: report
BERLIN (Reuters) – Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, convicted in March of evading $40 million in taxes, has filed a formal protest about his jail due to security and privacy fears, a German magazine reported on Monday.
North Korea denies spy drones, labels South’s president a ‘prostitute’
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea on Monday accused U.S. and South Korean authorities of fabricating the results of a probe that concluded Pyongyang sent small surveillance drones, or unmanned aircraft, to spy on key South Korean installations in March.
