Myanmar to free most political detainees in year-end amnesty
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar is expect to release most of its prisoners of conscience on Tuesday and scores more awaiting trial, activists said, after the government announced a year-end amnesty for those held for political reasons.
Switzerland gives Khodorkovsky 3-month Schengen visa
GENEVA (Reuters) – Switzerland granted a three-month visa on Friday to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Russian former oil tycoon who was released from prison earlier two weeks ago.
Bahrain says foils ‘terror’ attempts, seizes explosives, weapons
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle explosives and arms, some made in Iran and Syria, into the country by boat, the Gulf Arab state’s public security chief said on Monday.
Afghanistan rejects grim U.S. intelligence forecast as baseless
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan on Monday rejected as baseless a U.S. intelligence forecast that the gains the United States and allies have made in the past three years will be significantly rolled back by 2017.
U.N. seeks access to Palestinians in Syria after 15 die of hunger
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United Nations appealed on Monday for the Syrian army and rebel fighters to allow urgent aid to reach a Palestinian district of southern Damascus where it said 15 people have died of malnutrition in recent months.
U.S., Libyan forces capture Tunisian militant leader: media
TUNIS (Reuters) – U.S. and Libyan forces captured Saifallah Benahssine, the leader of Tunisia’s Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia, in the Libyan city of Misrata on Monday, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP said, citing a security source.
Bahrain jails five for 15 years for bomb attacks: agency
MANAMA (Reuters) – A Bahraini court sentenced five men to 15 years in prison for two attacks by homemade bombs – including one during last year’s Formula 1 race – the Gulf Arab state’s official BNA news agency said.
Former aide to retired Chinese security chief probed for graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former aide to retired Chinese security tsar Zhou Yongkang is being investigated for corruption, the government said, the latest move targeting people close to Zhou who is himself subject to a graft probe.
Thailand’s army moves to allay coup fears
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s powerful but politicized army sought to ease fears on Monday it might step in to resolve a festering political crisis, while anti-government protesters entrenched positions around Bangkok as they seek to disrupt a Februar…
Tunisian police arrest Islamists threatening New Year celebrations
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian police arrested seven Salafists, or ultra-conservative Islamists, in the western town of Kasserine on Sunday, local radio reported, as authorities feared radical Islamists may be planning attacks during New Year celebrations….
