Saudi religious leader condemns suicide attacks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, has condemned suicide bombings as grave crimes, reiterating his stance in unusually strong language.
Slovak PM seeking release of paragliders from Iran
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday to try to enable two Slovak paragliders who had been detained over accusations of spying to leave the country.
Indonesia warns of possibly violent Christmas
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s president has ordered police to step up security around churches over the Christmas holidays following reports of possible attacks.
Indian ban on gay sex violates international law: U.N
GENEVA (Reuters) – A decision by the Indian Supreme Court to reinstate a ban on gay sex represents a “significant step backwards for India” and violates international law, United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Thursday, suggesting the c…
Nigeria’s Jonathan told not to stand in 2015 by mentor Obasanjo
* Former leader says Jonathan promised not to seek 2nd term
S.Korea’s KAI sells fighter jets worth $1.1 billion to Iraq
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean defense contractor Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI) has signed a deal with Iraq to export 24 light fighter jets valued at $1.1 billion, the company said on Thursday.
Egyptian police fire tear gas and water cannon on protesters
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of pro-Islamist protesters demonstrating near the headquarters of the ministry of defense in Cairo on Thursday, security sources said.
U.S. begins air lifting Burundian troops to Central African Republic
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – The United States began air lifting Burundian troops to Central African Republic on Thursday, part of efforts to help African and French forces prevent a descent into civil war, Burundi’s army said.
Bangladesh court clears the way for Islamist’s execution
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the execution of an Islamist opposition leader, sparking violent protests by his supporters less than a month before elections are due to be held.
Russia is a force for moral good but no superpower: Putin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin, in a thinly veiled criticism of the United States, portrayed Russia on Thursday as a force for peace and morality that had no desire to be a global superpower.
