France to increase West Africa troops to support Boko Haram fight
PARIS (Reuters) – France is increasing its West African counter-insurgency force to support regional forces fighting Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday.
U.S. may be unable to defend U.S.-backed Syria fighters from Assad
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States does not appear to have clear-cut legal authority to protect Syrian rebels it trains from attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even if Congress approves new war powers, U.S. Defense Secret…
Turkey shuts border crossings as fighting worsens around Syria’s Aleppo
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey has closed two border crossings with Syria as a security precaution as fighting around the northern Syrian city of Aleppo intensifies, Turkish customs and government officials said on Wednesday.
British defense secretary dismisses U.S. concern about force cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Britain’s defense secretary on Wednesday sought to dispel U.S. concerns about cuts in his country’s defenses, saying it was maintaining and developing a credible capability and urging fellow European NATO members to step up their…
Turkish police use teargas to subdue protesters marking teen’s death
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police on Wednesday fired water cannon and teargas at hundreds of protesters who had gathered to mark the first anniversary of the death of a teenager fatally wounded during anti-government demonstrations.
Bahrain detains student, teachers over Koranic recitation to music
DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain’s public prosecutor has charged a high school student and two teachers with insulting Islam in connection with a video showing the student reciting verses from the Koran to musical accompaniment, state news agency BNA reported…
Slovenia police launch probe against former PM Bratusek
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenian police raided the home of ex-prime minister Alenka Bratusek on Wednesday in search of evidence that she might have abused her position when her cabinet nominated her last year as a candidate for European commissioner.
As Israeli election nears, peace earns barely a mention
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – In a rare TV debate ahead of Israel’s tightly contested election on March 17, eight party leaders from across the political spectrum held forth for 90 minutes in a noisy, argumentative discussion of Israeli policy.
Canadian police say man on high-risk watch list fled country
TORONTO (Reuters) – A Canadian man who was on a police watch list for high-risk travelers has left the country illegally and is being sought for arrest, police said on Wednesday.
Suspects in Nemtsov killing probably tortured – Russian rights activist
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Three suspects in the killing of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov have probably been tortured while in detention, a member of the Kremlin’s advisory council on human rights said on Wednesday.
