North Korea hawkish and dovish ahead of South-U.S. drills
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea demanded that South Korea and the United States halt annual military drills due in February and March, saying they were a direct provocation, a statement that suggested a re-run of a sharp escalation in tension last year.
Thai graft body to probe rice subsidies, adding to PM’s woes amid protests
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai anti-corruption agency said on Thursday it would investigate a money-guzzling rice subsidy program that has fuelled opposition to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as protesters marched through the capital demanding she res…
Main Turkish opposition rejects constitutional reform proposal
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s largest opposition party said on Thursday it had rejected plans for constitutional changes to resolve a row over the judiciary, paving the way for the government to press ahead with its own moves to assert greater control ov…
Kabul’s new female police chief aware of danger, hopes to inspire others
KABUL (Reuters) – An Afghan policewoman took charge of a district in the capital Kabul this week, such an unusual and dangerous appointment in a country where women have few rights that her bosses gave her four bodyguards.
Main Turkish opposition rejects constitutional reform proposal
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s largest opposition party said on Thursday it had rejected plans for constitutional changes to resolve a row over the judiciary, paving the way for the government to press ahead with its own plans to assert greater control ov…
Serbia to hold snap election in March: report
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia will hold a snap parliamentary election in March as the co-ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) seeks to cash in on rising poll numbers, the Politika daily reported on Thursday.
Netanyahu hardens settlement demands in peace talks: report
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s prime minister has increased the amount of occupied territory he wants to keep after any peace deal with the Palestinians, state media reported on Thursday, a move that could complicate U.S.-backed efforts to reach an acc…
Hariri murder trial opens in The Hague
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The trial of the four men accused of killing former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri opened in The Hague on Thursday, nine years after the bomb attack in which 21 others also died.
Turk deputy PM says trust in courts key as graft probe continues
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said trust in Turkey’s legal system was essential to it attaining its long-term growth goals, as the government pressed ahead with plans to assert control over the judiciary.
Zimbabwe government workers reject double-digit pay rises
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe government employees have rejected pay increases of up to 27 percent as too small, a union leader said on Thursday, putting more pressure on President Robert Mugabe to deliver on election promises made last year of higher wa…
