Six Chinese officials stand trial for torture in landmark case
BEIJING (Reuters) – Six Communist Party officials will stand trial in China on Tuesday on charges of torturing a man to death during an internal investigation in a case that has exposed the secret workings of the party’s judicial system.
Turkish warplanes shoot down Syrian helicopter
YAYLADAGI, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkey said its warplanes shot down a Syrian helicopter on Monday after it crossed into Turkish airspace and the government warned it had taken all necessary measures to defend itself against any further such violations.
New poll could curb Berlusconi’s temptation to sink government
ROME (Reuters) – An opinion poll on Monday showed Silvio Berlusconi’s party falling behind its center-left rivals and could undermine the media tycoon’s temptation to bring down Italy’s shaky coalition government over his tax fraud conviction.
Sudan president seeks U.S. visa for U.N. visit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States condemned on Monday the president of Sudan’s application for a U.S. visa to attend a U.N. meeting next week, saying he should face charges of war crimes and genocide at the International Criminal Court.
Putin: Russia to reopen Soviet-era Arctic military base
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is reopening a Soviet-era military base in the Arctic, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, part of a drive to make the northern coast a global shipping route and secure the region’s vast energy resources.
Colombian former President Uribe to run for Senate
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s former President Alvaro Uribe, revered by many for crippling the power of the country’s guerrillas, said on Monday he plans to return to politics by seeking election to the Senate in March.
Afghan opposition decries appointments to election
KABUL (Reuters) – Opposition Afghan politicians accused the government of giving its allies posts in an electoral complaints commission, saying the appointments could undermine next year’s presidential vote.
Islamists in Sahara issue video of foreign hostages
DUBAI/PARIS (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s north African arm, AQIM, has issued a video of seven foreign hostages, including four French citizens, held in the Sahara urging negotiations for their release, France’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
U.S. says Sudan’s president applied for visa to attend U.N. General Assembly
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has applied for a U.S. visa to attend the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the State Department said on Monday, adding that he should not make the trip because he…
Islamist Nour party walks out of Egypt’s constitution talks
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s second biggest Islamist party on Monday walked out of a committee amending the constitution, to protest against moves to curb the influence of Islam in state affairs.
