Earthquake of 7.1 magnitude off Indonesia’s Ambon island: USGS
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck 174 km (108 miles) southeast of Indonesia’s eastern island of Ambon on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Egypt to build one million homes for poor to help ease shortage: minister
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt plans to build 1 million homes for poorer people at a cost of almost $20 billion over the next five years, the housing minister said, to ease a crunch that has seen slums and unlicensed buildings spread since the 2011 revolt.
In IS stronghold, residents trapped in ‘sealed casket’ as Iraqi forces close in
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – As Iraqi forces close in on the western city of Ramadi, thousands of civilians are effectively being held hostage inside by Islamic State militants who want to use them as human shields.
Russian PM: we’ll stick to defense spending plans
(Reuters) – Russia will implement its spending plans for defense despite tough financial conditions, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview broadcast on state television on Wednesday.
China seeks South Korean safety guarantees after warning shots fired at ship
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Wednesday it had asked South Korea to ensure the safety of Chinese ships after South Korea’s navy fired warning shots at a Chinese vessel which crossed into waters disputed by North and South Korea.
Russia denies plans for new bases in Syria: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defense ministry is not developing additional air bases in Syria, RIA news agency quoted the ministry’s spokesman as saying on Wednesday.
Syrian rebel group says Saudi meeting must rule out concessions
RIYADH (Reuters) – The powerful Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham said on Wednesday that a Syrian opposition meeting in Saudi Arabia must insist that President Bashar al-Assad face justice and that Syria’s “institutions of oppression” are dismantl…
South Korea man arrested in connection with Japan shrine blast
TOKYO (Reuters) – A South Korean man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a blast last month at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, an official at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department said.
Thailand to extradite Canadian arrested as ‘adviser’ to Silk Road website
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Canadian man arrested in Thailand over his alleged role as a senior adviser to the creator of the underground Silk Road website will be extradited to the United States next month, police said on Wednesday.
Venezuela’s Maduro says will veto amnesty laws, reshuffle cabinet
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced an imminent cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday after his ruling Socialist Party was crushed in legislative elections, but he vowed to veto opposition plans for an amnesty law for jailed politi…
