Ukraine’s Yanukovich heads for talks in Russia with Putin – news agency
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich is stopping off in Russia to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his way back home from an official visit to China, Ukraine’s UNIAN news agency said on Friday.
U.S. VP Biden says no tolerance for nuclear arms in N.Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday that North Korea would never achieve prosperity as long as it continued to pursue nuclear arms, but added Washington remained open to dialogue if Pyongyang can show its willingness to honor…
Thai protest leaders refuse to give up, but streets calm
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Protesters seeking to topple Thailand’s government stayed off the street on Friday after halting their demonstration the day before out of respect for the king on his birthday but clashes were reported overnight, one at the occupied…
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to visit Iran next week
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Iran next week to discuss issues including the interim deal reached by world powers and Tehran over its nuclear program, Russian news agencies reported on Friday.
Malaysia ruling party tightens embrace of Islam to gain support
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s ruling party, stung by an election setback in May, is burnishing its Islamic credentials, aiming to gain ground among majority ethnic Malay voters in a move that could heighten concern over growing religious intolera…
Pakistani immigrant sues U.S. over false arrest in war on terrorism
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec 5, Reuters – A Pakistani immigrant who says he was held for more than 10 months in solitary confinement after being falsely arrested on terrorism charges has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Miami, saying he was a victim of “overz…
China complains government building ban being flouted
BEIJING (Reuters) – A ban on the construction of new government buildings in China is not being enforced effectively, the government said on Friday, ordering a new crackdown to ensure promises are kept to rein in extravagance and pervasive corruption.
Mexico lower house greenlights electoral reform
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s lower house on Thursday gave general approval to an electoral reform demanded by the opposition, helping pave the way for Congress to focus on an energy bill at the center of President Enrique Pena Nieto’s economic agen…
U.S. assures Israel that core Iran sanctions still in place
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that core sanctions against Iran would remain in place despite its interim nuclear deal with world powers.
Nelson Mandela, from apartheid fighter to president and unifier
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world.
