Turkish police detain dozens over illegal wiretapping: sources
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police have detained dozens of people nationwide in the latest of a series of operations over illegal wiretapping targeting supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, President Tayyip Erdogan’s ally-turned-foe,…
France says Russia would face more sanctions if Mariupol attacked
PARIS (Reuters) – Moscow would face more EU sanctions if pro-Russia separatists attack the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday, potentially opening a corridor to the south, including the annexed Crimean …
Russia says many in Kiev want Ukraine peace deal to fail: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is concerned that many people in Kiev and outside Ukraine want a peace deal in the east of the country to fail, Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Wednesday.
U.N. report finds torture still widespread in Afghan jails
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan authorities tortured or mistreated more than a third of nearly 800 suspected Taliban-linked detainees who human rights investigators were able to interview, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
Australia pleads for mercy for drug traffickers to be executed in Indonesia
SYDNEY/JAKARTA (Reuters) – Australia’s foreign minister appealed to Indonesia’s president on Wednesday to show mercy for two Australian drug traffickers due to executed in Indonesia, expressing disappointment that their latest legal appeal had been rej…
Palestinian mosque damaged in suspected West Bank arson
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A Palestinian mosque was set alight in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and graffiti in Hebrew at the scene suggested the attack was carried out by a far-right Israeli group, officials said.
Bangladesh issues arrest warrants for opposition chief in graft cases
DHAKA (Reuters) – A Bangladesh court issued arrest warrants on Wednesday for former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia, action likely to escalate tension fuelling anti-government protests in which more than 100 people have been killed ove…
France says Russia would face more sanctions if Mariupol attacked
PARIS (Reuters) – Moscow would face more EU sanctions if pro-Russia separatists attacked Ukraine’s government-held port of Mariupol, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday.
U.S. senators propose $1.5 billion fund to combat global slavery
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – U.S. senators have proposed legislation calling for the creation of a $1.5 billion fund to combat modern-day slavery around the world through more aggressive law enforcement and prosecution of human traffickers.
Earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitude strikes off southern Japan: USGS
SYDNEY (Reuters) – An earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitude struck off southern Japan on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.




