Insight: Iran President’s nuclear agenda inhibits social reforms
ANKARA (Reuters) – Reformists who supported the election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last year fear his focus on improving relations with the West will prevent him from pushing for greater political and cultural freedoms at home.
Ukraine will not declare state of emergency -presidential aide
KIEV (Reuters) – A senior aide to President Viktor Yanukovich said on Tuesday there would be no declaration of a state of emergency to end the unrest in Ukraine that has brought violent confrontation between protesters and police in the capital.
Analysis: Options narrow for Yanukovich as Kiev heaves with violence
KIEV (Reuters) – At one end of Kiev’s protest zone, just inside a makeshift barricade, protesters have set up a mock jail with an effigy of President Viktor Yanukovich sitting in a striped convict’s tunic, his arms raised above him in manacles.
Arrested Vatican prelate in new money laundering charge
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A former Vatican prelate on trial for an alleged plot to smuggle 20 million euros into Italy was further charged on Tuesday with laundering millions through the Vatican bank, police said.
Pakistan bombs militant hideouts in tribal area after Taliban attacks
MIRANSHAH/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani fighter jets and helcopters attacked suspected Taliban hideouts in a tribal area on the Afghan border on Tuesday, killing up to 40 people, military sources and residents said, after a wave of insurgent…
Suicide bombing kills four in Hezbollah area of south Beirut
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed four people on Tuesday in a residential district of southern Beirut known for its support of the powerful Shi’ite Muslim military and political movement Hezbollah, security sources said.
Thai government declares state of emergency as protests drag on
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The Thai government declared a 60-day state of emergency to start on Wednesday, saying it wanted to prevent any escalation of more than two months of protests aimed at forcing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from power.
Iraq executes 26 people for ‘terrorism’ offences
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq has hanged 26 people convicted of “terrorism” offences, the Justice Ministry announced on Tuesday, pursuing a practice of mass executions despite international criticism.
Slovenia refuses to extradite Romanian hacker to U.S
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenia will not extradite a Romanian hacker who broke into the computer systems of U.S. government agencies, because he has already been tried and sentenced in Romania, the national news agency STA reported on Tuesday.
Russia’s Putin accepts Japan invitation, minister says
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit Japan, and the two countries will soon start consultations on a peace treaty, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
