OSCE warns of intimidation in north Kosovo ahead of vote
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Europe’s chief rights and democracy watchdog warned on Thursday of a campaign of intimidation among Serbs in north Kosovo before an election central to a fragile EU-brokered accord between Serbia and its former southern province.
Murdoch staff turned to hacking in ‘dog-eat-dog’ world, court hears
LONDON (Reuters) – Reporters on Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World repeatedly hacked the phones of senior politicians and even rival journalists in a desperate bid to get ahead on salacious front-page stories, a London court heard on Thursday.
Niger says 92 migrants found dead in Sahara after failed crossing
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Rescuers have found the bodies of 92 migrants, most of them women and children, strewn across the Sahara desert in northern Niger after their vehicles broke down and they died of thirst, authorities said on Thursday.
Thousands in contested Abyei vote to join South Sudan, risking tensions
ABYEI (Reuters) – Permanent residents of the disputed Abyei region overwhelmingly voted to join South Sudan on Thursday in a symbolic referendum that could antagonize heavily armed Arab nomads who drive their livestock through the area and claim it for…
Russian court closes news agency, citing new obscenity law
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Moscow court on Thursday revoked the registration of web-based news agency Rosbalt for posting videos it said contained profane language, including a clip by punk band Pussy Riot, in violation of a law adopted earlier this year.
Hague court postpones Kenyatta trial again
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The start of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trial for crimes against humanity has been postponed until February 5, the International Criminal Court said on Thursday.
Pakistani PM says talks with Pakistani Taliban are underway
LONDON (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday his country had started talks with the Pakistani Taliban, a British government source said.
Bavarian conservatives get boost from EU on foreign-driver road toll plan
BERLIN (Reuters) – Bavarian conservatives have received an unexpected boost from Brussels for a controversial plan to impose a motorway toll on foreign drivers, giving impetus to their push for the idea in German talks to form a coalition government.
Lonmin pay dispute tees up sector-wide South African platinum strike
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The hardline AMCU union declared a wage dispute with mining company Lonmin on Thursday, raising the possibility of a strike across South Africa’s platinum industry that could hit half of global output.
Czech left leader defeats rebels, takes control of government talks
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka took back control of talks to form a new government on Thursday, defeating a bid to oust him by party rebels unhappy over a poor election result.
