U.S. cites crackdowns on protestors, gays in global rights report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday expressed growing concern about government crackdowns on peaceful protest and persecution of gays in a number of countries in its annual review of global human rights.
Morocco raises stakes in diplomatic spat with ally France
RABAT/PARIS (Reuters) – Morocco has halted judicial cooperation with France, blocking procedures from prisoner transfers to joint investigations, officials said on Thursday, in a growing dispute with its former colonial ruler over allegations of human …
NATO to plan for all options in Afghanistan, including pullout
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO defense ministers agreed on Thursday to plan for all options for the alliance’s future presence in Afghanistan including a possible pullout of all its troops this year, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
Russia raises military clout with reforms after Georgian war
LONDON (Reuters) – Refitting Soviet-era warships, fielding new aircraft and tanks and seeking new overseas bases, the Russian military that now has troops on alert amidst a crisis in Ukraine is more potent than the force which briefly fought Georgia si…
Egypt appoints Hany Dimian finance minister: government official
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s prime minister appointed former finance ministry official Hany Dimian as finance minister in the new government on Thursday, a government official said.
Britain opens inquiry into letters to IRA suspects
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Thursday an independent inquiry into letters sent to IRA suspects, after an angry response to the freeing of an Irishman accused of a 1982 bombing that killed four soldiers in London….
Romanian prosecutors say face rising political pressure
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor said on Thursday her team saw an sharp increase in political pressure to drop cases while they were investigating high-ranking officials last year, adding this could be a measure of her d…
Venezuela unrest shakes up opposition
CARACAS (Reuters) – One month ago, Henrique Capriles was Venezuela’s undisputed opposition leader, espousing a vision of dialogue and measured dissent towards the socialist government.
North Korea fires short-range missiles in apparent exercise
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired four short-range missiles over the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday, a media official at South Korea’s Defence Ministry said, but provided no information as to the purpose of the firing.
U.S. rights report highlights China, Myanmar reforms, abuses
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department noted some positive reforms in Myanmar and China and other parts of Asia in its annual human rights report released on Thursday but said that serious abuses and severe restrictions on basic freedoms pers…
