Opposition leaders say Clinton pledges US support for democracy, human rights in Russia

MOSCOW — Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton assured Russia’s struggling independent journalists and rights activists Tuesday that U.S. efforts to improve ties with Moscow did not mean Washington was abandoning its support for democracy in Russia.

SUMMIT NOTEBOOK: Obamas greet guests for G-20 dinner, braving mist and long waits

PITTSBURGH — For 95 minutes Thursday evening, President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, greeted world leaders arriving in ones and twos for the G-20 summit’s opening dinner, at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.

SUMMIT NOTEBOOK: At G-20, it’s little sleep, hard floors, long security lines

PITTSBURGH — If it’s Thursday, it must be Pittsburgh.

European human rights envoy urges Russia to prosecute killers of NGO in Chechnya

MOSCOW — The Council of Europe’s commissioner on human rights says Russia must prosecute the killers of a human rights activist in Chechnya this year, if it is to break a cycle of violence in the region.

Berlin NGO conference attendees say more funding needed to improve women’s health, development

BERLIN — Securing sufficient funding is the greatest obstacle to improving women’s well-being and rights in the developing world, officials attending a conference on sexual and reproductive health said Friday.

Ascetic ex-minister campaigning out of a tent is running 3rd in Afghan election

KABUL — Presidential candidate Ramazan Bashardost works out of a tent, eschews meat and refuses bodyguards. With a message of asceticism and charity, he has struck a chord with Afghan voters, disillusioned with candidates tainted by ties to warlords and government corruption.

Rights group: “strong evidence” Hamas committed war crimes by targeting Israeli civilians

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A prominent human rights group said there is “strong evidence” that Gaza’s Hamas rulers committed war crimes by allowing militants to fire rockets from the territory that killed civilians in Israel, according to a report released Thursday.

Prominent Chinese legal activist detained in worrying sign for non-gov’t groups

BEIJING — A prominent Chinese legal scholar whose rights group has tackled some of China’s most politically sensitive cases, including a tainted milk scandal, has been accused of tax evasion following his arrest a week ago, his brother said Tuesday.

Iran begins first trial of postelection crisis, says activists plotted ‘velvet revolution’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran began its first trial of the postelection crisis on Saturday, a mass court case against more than 100 activists and protesters accused of plotting a “velvet revolution” to topple clerical rule.

China court accepts first lawsuit against government by environment group

BEIJING — A court in southwest China has accepted the country’s first lawsuit filed by an environmental group against a local government, a member of the group said Friday.

Chinese authorities raid Beijing office of health activist, seize newsletters

BEIJING — Chinese authorities seized dozens of newsletters from a nonprofit group that fights discrimination against people with hepatitis B, a campaigner said Thursday, calling the move retribution for the group’s advocacy work.

UN allows gay, lesbian organization to participate in formal meetings; bans Arab group

GENEVA — The United Nations granted official status to a gay and lesbian organization from Brazil on Monday, allowing it to participate in U.N. meetings ranging from health to human rights.

Major donor considers return to Myanmar as country struggles with AIDS crisis

YANGON, Myanmar — Shrunken to 30 pounds of skin and bones, Ma Moe could barely walk when she arrived on the doorstep of the clinic nearly two years ago. AIDS had killed her husband three years earlier, and it was slowly killing her.

Russia’s Medvedev eases restrictions on rights groups, other nongovernmental organizations

MOSCOW — The Kremlin says President Dmitry Medvedev has signed legislation easing restrictions on human rights groups and other non-governmental organizations.

Bill Clinton says fixing Haiti’s problems depends on better coordination of aid efforts

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A lack of coordination among aid groups and Haitian leaders is hurting efforts to ease poverty in the Caribbean nation, Bill Clinton said Wednesday as he wrapped up his first trip here as a special U.N. envoy.

Russian parliament passes legislation easing pressure on NGOs ahead of Obama visit

MOSCOW — Russia’s lower house of parliament on Friday approved a bill easing restrictions on the country’s beleaguered human rights groups and other non-governmental organizations.

Zimbabwe’s prime minister Tsvangirai calls foreign tour a success despite few aid pledges

PARIS — Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called his tour of Europe and the United States a success Thursday, though he won few commitments of aid amid new U.N. warnings of food shortages in his country.

Earthquake recovery: China’s government stymies activism

CHENGDU, China — When a powerful earthquake flattened Sichuan province a year ago, community organizer Zhang Guoyuan seized the moment.

Venezuelan NGOs warn proposed law could clamp down on critical organizations

CARACAS, Venezuela — Prominent Venezuelan nongovernmental organizations warned Thursday that a bill being drafted by lawmakers loyal to President Hugo Chavez could be used to financially strangle groups that criticize the government.

Asian Development Bank renews fight against poverty as global slump hits Asia’s poor

NUSA DUA, Indonesia — Just two years ago, the Asian Development Bank was struggling with an identity crisis of sorts as a wave of new prosperity called into question its basic mission: lifting millions out of extreme poverty.

UN kicks Jewish students, Iranians out of racism meeting following protests, breach of rules

GENEVA — The United Nations expelled three groups from its conference on global racism Thursday for unacceptable behavior related to the opening speech that Iran’s president gave denouncing Israel.