NATO chief says Russia still equipping Ukraine rebels
MONS, Belgium (Reuters) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Russia was still arming and training rebel forces in eastern Ukraine and he called for the warring parties to help foreign monitors to reinforce a ceasefire.
Question marks hang over flawed Darfur peacekeeping force
ZAM ZAM CAMP, SUDAN/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – One of the world’s largest peacekeeping forces is being cut back and revamped as it has been failing to protect civilians in Darfur, the vast Sudanese region where gunmen roam in Land Cruisers and on horse…
Russia says has right to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea: report
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has the right to deploy nuclear arms in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine last year, a Foreign Ministry official said on Wednesday, adding he knew of no plans to do so.
Iraqi foreign minister dismisses Saudi worries about Iranian control
CAIRO (Reuters) – Iraq’s foreign minister dismissed Saudi concerns that Iran was taking control of his country and he said Baghdad sought good relations with both regional powers.
Bangladesh police stood close by during U.S. blogger attack: victim’s wife
DHAKA (Reuters) – The wife of an American blogger and critic of religious extremism who was hacked to death in Dhaka last month said that police stood nearby when the couple were attacked on a university campus in the Bangladesh capital.
China investigates former boss of Xinjiang’s capital for suspected corruption
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former senior official in the capital of China’s restive western region of Xinjiang who was sacked after deadly riots in 2009 has been put under investigation for suspected corruption, the graft watchdog said on Wednesday.
Court summons India’s ex-PM Singh in coal corruption case
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian court summoned former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday over accusations of criminal conspiracy and corruption in the illegal award of a coal field, a blow for the Gandhi dynasty that ruled India until last year…
Islamic State battling Kurdish forces in northeast Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hundreds of Islamic State fighters have launched an attack on Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, triggering fierce fighting that has killed dozens on both sides, a group monitoring the war said on Wednesday.
Swedish artist on al Qaeda’s hit list has no regrets
MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) – His public appearances are cancelled, friends shy away and he is confined to a safehouse but Swedish artist Lars Vilks, twice targeted by Islamist assasins, says he has no regrets even though he feels that those who wish him d…
Japan lawmakers ponder powering up casino bill via obscure parliamentary panel
TOKYO (Reuters) – Die-hard proponents of legalized casinos in Japan are considering a last-ditch effort to get their bill passed – by the obscure route of a parliamentary committee that handles matters like the removal of power poles.
