Russia rejects proposed war crimes probe for Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Russia on Friday rejected calls by Western nations for an international probe into alleged war crimes in the final phase of the 26-year Sri Lankan civil war that the government won in 2009.
Belgium surprised at international euthanasia backlash
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian media expressed rank incomprehension over foreign criticism of the country’s extension of euthanasia to children, portraying legislation as humane and dismissing any notion of sick children being pressed to their deaths.
Ukraine protesters freed under amnesty but streets still tense
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian authorities on Friday provisionally freed the last 234 detained protesters under an amnesty offer aimed at defusing protracted street unrest, but activists decried the move as a sham and pressed for further concessions.
Russia accuses EU of seeking Ukraine ‘sphere of influence’
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia accused the European Union on Friday of seeking to create a “sphere of influence” on its borders by pressing Ukraine to choose closer ties with the Western bloc at the expense of relations with Moscow.
Homs rebel puts fate in Syrian government hands
HOMS, Syria (Reuters) – Waiting among a group of evacuees from Homs for questioning by Syrian security forces, Hodwan al-Masri knew he could not hide his identity.
China sacks police chief of vice hub in prostitution scandal
BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese government on Friday sacked the police chief of the southern “sin city” of Dongguan following a candid report by the state broadcaster on the underground sex industry there, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
UK political donor and son arrested in Rolls-Royce probe
LONDON (Reuters) – An Indian-born donor to one of Britain’s ruling political parties and his son were arrested earlier this week as part of a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into Rolls-Royce’s dealings in Asia.
Kerry says China willing to pressure North Korea on nuclear plans
BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday China is willing to exert more pressure to get North Korea to give up its nuclear program.
China says 11 ‘terrorists’ killed in new Xinjiang unrest
BEIJING (Reuters) – Eleven “terrorists” were killed during an attack in China’s far western region of Xinjiang on Friday, state news agency Xinhua said, in the latest violence to hit a part of the country with a large Muslim population.
Kidnapped Pakistani drone activist reappears, says was tortured
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A Pakistani anti-drone activist kidnapped from his home last week was tortured and interrogated before being dumped blindfolded on the outskirts of the capital early on Friday morning, his lawyer said.
