Iran stages pro-government rallies after sixth day of protests
LONDON (Reuters) – Thousands of Iranians took part in pro-government rallies in several cities on Wednesday in a state-sponsored show of force after six days of street unrest that has shaken the clerical leadership and left 21 people dead.
Israel offers to pay African migrants to leave, threatens jail
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Wednesday it would pay thousands of African migrants living illegally in the country to leave, threatening them with jail if they are caught after the end of March.
Last chance? Merkel maneuvers for coalition re-run with SPD
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel will put her reputation as Europe’s consummate consensus-builder on the line on Wednesday, when she launches a second bid to form a coalition government after weeks of sniping between its would-be part…
U.S. firm Ocean Infinity says hopeful of getting MH370 search contract soon
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – U.S.-based seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity on Wednesday said it was moving a vessel closer to a possible search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as it soon expects to be awarded a contract by Malaysia to r…
Singapore bans film focused on indicted Palestinian teen activist
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore has banned a film festival from screening a documentary later this week that features a teenage Palestinian female activist whose arrest last month has made her a symbol of resistance to Israeli military occupation in th…
Palestinians condemn Trump aid halt threat, mixed reaction in Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinians condemned as blackmail on Wednesday U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold future aid payments over what he called the Palestinians’ unwillingness to talk peace with Israel.
Russian military helicopter crashes in Syria, killing two: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian military MI-24 helicopter crashed in Syria on Dec. 31 due to a technical fault, killing both pilots, Russian news agencies cited the Ministry of Defence as saying on Wednesday.
Majority of French now favor allowing surrogate motherhood: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – A majority of French people would favor allowing surrogate motherhood, though primarily only for medical reasons, a poll showed on Wednesday, highlighting a shift in attitudes as France prepares to review laws relating to assisted rep…
Al Shabaab kills five Kenyan policemen who were out on patrol
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Five Kenyan policemen were killed in an attack on their vehicle in the northeast county of Mandera near the border with Somalia late on Tuesday, a government official in the area said.
Iran holds pro-government rallies after sixth day of protests
LONDON (Reuters) – Pro-government rallies in several Iranian cities drew thousands of marchers on Wednesday, following six days of rare unrest that took the country’s leaders off guard.
