Indonesia’s ‘red scare’ stokes unease over military’s growing influence
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s military elite are openly stoking public anxiety about communism, gays and other ‘foreign influences’, a drive critics say is aimed at seizing a greater role in civilian affairs of the world’s third-largest democracy.
Libya forces say pushing back Islamic State fighters
MISRATA, Libya (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Libya’s U.N.-backed unity government pushed Islamic State fighters back toward their stronghold of Sirte on Wednesday but lost more than 30 men, including seven killed in a car bombing, officials said.
Rescued Chibok girl to meet Nigerian leader, hopes raised for other captives
ABUJA, Nigeria (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A Nigerian schoolgirl rescued after two years of being held captive by Boko Haram militants will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday amid hopes that she can help shed light on the whereabouts o…
Bomb kills nine Iraqi soldiers during raid south of Baghdad
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Nine Iraqi soldiers were killed and nine more wounded on Wednesday when a house rigged with explosives blew up south of Baghdad during a raid of suspected Islamic State militants, two army sources said.
Turkey angered over EU envoy’s remark on EU migrant deal: sources
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey summoned the top European Union envoy in the country on Tuesday to complain about comments he made last week on the migration deal between Ankara and the EU, Turkish foreign ministry sources said on Wednesday.
Ecuador coast hit by two earthquakes; one dead
QUITO (Reuters) – Two earthquakes struck Ecuador’s coast on Wednesday, leading to one death and light damage in the same region where a magnitude 7.8 tremor killed more than 650 people last month.
Targeted Myanmar tycoon may profit from U.S. sanctions changes
YANGON (Reuters) – Standing among the party seeing off Myanmar’s new president as he left for Russia on Wednesday was leading businessman Htun Myint Naing, better known as Steven Law.
Kerry, Egypt’s Sisi discuss Mideast peace, Libya conflict
CAIRO (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held brief talks with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, a day after the Egyptian leader proposed new efforts to try to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Iran’s IRGC says many Iranians have volunteered to fight in Syria
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday many Iranians have volunteered to fight in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s war against “terrorism”, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Brazilian judge sentences Lula’s ex-chief of staff to 23 years
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A one-time chief of staff for former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for corruption, money-laundering and conspiracy in a vast bribery scandal at the state-run oil com…
