Kenyan press, opposition criticize proposed harsh media law
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan media and opposition politicians have criticized media rules proposed by the government, saying they would muzzle the press and stunt democracy in the country.
Shi’ite rebels attack north Yemen town, death toll rises
SANAA (Reuters) – Shi’ite Muslim Houthi rebels backed by tanks launched a fresh attack on Friday on a town in north Yemen held by their Sunni Muslim Salafi rivals, a Salafi spokesman said, bringing the total death toll in three days of sectarian clashe…
Snowden writes to Germans to seek support in spy row
BERLIN (Reuters) – Fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has told Germany he is counting on international support to stop Washington’s ‘persecution’ of him for revealing the scale of its worldwide phone and Internet surveillance.
Russian PM plays down ‘gas war’ talk, warns Ukraine on EU
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he saw no reason for Moscow to cut gas supplies to Ukraine over an unpaid bill for now, playing down talk of an imminent “gas war” that might disrupt flows to Europe.
Uganda calls for Congo ceasefire as peace talks progress
KAMPALA/RUMANGABO, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Uganda called on the Congolese army and M23 rebels to cease fire on Friday as peace talks progressed in Kampala to end a 20-month conflict.
Bulgaria’s ruling group challenges land purchases ban
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s ruling alliance asked the country’s top court on Friday to quash a widely criticized ban on arable land acquisitions by foreigners to avert infringement action by the European Union.
China’s economy to sustain ‘mid- to high-speed’ growth: premier
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s economy will keep growing at mid- to high speed in coming years, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday, promising to lead the world’s second-largest economy on a road of “comprehensive reform”.
Grenade blast in Russian courthouse kills two
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A man facing an assault charge detonated a grenade in a courthouse in Russia on Friday, killing himself and a court officer and wounding two other people, state authorities said.
UK phone-hacking trial hears editor wrote ‘do his phone’
LONDON (Reuters) – Andy Coulson, then editor of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, instructed a journalist working on a story about a celebrity to “do his phone”, a jury trying Coulson and others for phone-hacking was told on Friday.
Turkey, Iran signal thaw in ties amid mutual concern on Syria
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey and Iran said on Friday they had common concerns about the increasingly sectarian nature of Syria’s civil war, signaling a thaw in a key Middle Eastern relationship strained by stark differences over the conflict.
