Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating separatist moves
KIEV/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Police detained 70 people occupying a regional administration building in eastern Ukraine overnight, but pro-Moscow protesters held out in a standoff in two other cities in what Kiev called a Russian-led plan to dismem…
Syrians face drought, wheat production seen at record low: WFP
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrians battered by years of war are facing a major drought that could cut wheat production in the country’s northwest breadbasket to a record low of 1.7 million to 2 million metric tonnes, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tues…
Pakistani baby taken into hiding after attempted murder charge
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – Relatives of a nine-month old baby charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding, one said on Tuesday, in a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan’s dysfunctional criminal justice system.
U.S. contractor jailed in Cuba goes on hunger strike
HAVANA (Reuters) – The U.S. contractor sentenced to a 15-year prison term in Cuba for attempting to establish an illegal Internet service has gone on a hunger strike to protest his treatment by the Cuban and U.S. governments, his lawyer said on Tuesday…
Afghan presidential election provokes more than 3,000 complaints
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan authorities have received more than 3,000 reports of violations from last weekend’s presidential election, exceeding the tally following a 2009 vote that was marred by widespread fraud.
Palestinian envoy in Prague likely killed by booby-trapped book: paper
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Palestinian ambassador to Prague who died in a blast in January was most likely killed by a decades-old charge of Semtex plastic explosive concealed in a book, a newspaper reported on Tuesday citing a police investigator.
Beleaguered Thai PM pleads for justice, fair treatment
BANGKOK (Reuters) – With legal cases against her mounting, embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pleaded on Tuesday for fair and proper treatment from the national anti-corruption commission and Thailand’s Constitutional Court.
NATO head warns Russia of ‘grave consequences’ over Ukraine
PARIS (Reuters) – NATO’s secretary-general warned Russia on Tuesday that if it were to encroach into eastern Ukraine there would be “grave consequences” for its relationship with the alliance.
Valls seeks reform boost with French confidence vote
PARIS (Reuters) – New Prime Minister Manuel Valls will test France’s political commitment to reform on Tuesday in a confidence vote that should allow the Socialist government to press ahead with a competitiveness drive.
Turkey’s Erdogan sees more powerful presidency after August vote
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s first directly elected president will be a more powerful figure than the current largely ceremonial role, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted on Tuesday as saying, boosting expectations he may run for the post in Augu…
