Six Congolese activists sentenced to prison after general strike
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Six Congolese activists were sentenced on Wednesday to two years in prison, after they were arrested last week as they prepared for a general strike calling on President Joseph Kabila to step down, their lawyer said.
Cuba grants seven dissidents permit to travel ahead of Obama visit
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Cuban government has granted seven dissidents who are out of prison on parole one-time permission to travel outside the country in an apparent gesture to the United States ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.
Gang guilty of sex crimes in English town at center of abuse scandal
LONDON (Reuters) – Five people were convicted on Wednesday of multiple sex crimes against young girls in Rotherham, the northern English town which hit the headlines two years ago when it was revealed that as many as 1,400 children had been abused by g…
Burkina Faso’s ex-president becomes citizen of Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Ivory Coast said on Wednesday it has granted citizenship to Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaore, potentially dashing hopes he could be extradited to his neighboring native country for his role in a high-profile murder ca…
Bourbon vessel attacked off Nigeria, two kidnapped
PARIS (Reuters) – French oil services company Bourbon said on Wednesday that one of its vessels was attacked off the coast of Nigeria on Feb. 23 and two crew members from Nigeria and Russia are considered to have been abducted by the assailants.
Russia gives a gift of 10,000 automatic rifles to Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan officials took delivery of 10,000 automatic rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition as a gift from Russia on Wednesday, another sign of deepening involvement by Moscow in the war-torn country.
Hungary to hold referendum on EU’s plan for migrant quotas
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary will hold a referendum on European Union plans to create a system of mandatory quotas for migrants, an initiative that Hungary’s government has rejected, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday.
Spanish government pact dealt fatal blow hours after announcement
MADRID (Reuters) – A government deal between Spain’s Socialists and liberal Ciudadanos was dealt a fatal blow hours after it was announced on Wednesday when both the Conservatives and anti-austerity Podemos refused to back it.
Three injured in gas leak explosion in Chilean capital
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Three people were injured after a gas leak caused an explosion at a residential building in Chilean capital Santiago on Wednesday, and firefighters said residents might be trapped.
Backlash after UK justice minister says EU deal reversible
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s deal on new terms for its membership in the European Union could be undone by the European Court of Justice despite support from all member states, according to Justice Secretary Michael Gove, a senior figure among those wh…
