France says to investigate drone sightings, but sees no security risk
PARIS (Reuters) – French authorities have launched investigations into sightings of drones this week close to sensitive sites in Paris such as the presidential palace and the U.S. embassy, the government said on Wednesday.
Opposition accuses Macedonian government of tapping reporters’ phones
SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonia’s opposition leader accused the government on Wednesday of illegally wire-tapping around 100 journalists to cement control over the media, the latest revelation in a scandal that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski blamed on for…
Russia, Cyprus sign military deal on use of Mediterranean ports
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades signed an agreement on Wednesday to give Russian military ships access to Cypriot ports.
Nine more bodies found in Bangladesh ferry disaster; toll now 79
DHAKA (Reuters) – Nine bodies were retrieved from a river in central Bangladesh on Wednesday, said Harun-ur Rashid, a regional police official, bringing to 79 the number of people known to have died when a ferry capsized on Sunday.
Kremlin saw plan to annex Crimea before Yanukovich fell: newspaper
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin was presented with a plan to annex the Crimea peninsula and eastern Ukraine before the overthrow of the country’s Moscow-leaning president last year, an independent newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Niger air force bombs fish traders thought to finance Boko Haram
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Niger’s air force has bombed a convoy of trucks carrying smoked fish to Nigeria, a trade banned by local officials because it is suspected of helping to finance the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, security sources said on Wednesd…
Tanker crew members freed after kidnapping off Nigeria
ATHENS (Reuters) – Three crew members of a Maltese-flagged supertanker, who were kidnapped by pirates three weeks ago off Nigeria, have been released, Greece’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Kremlin saw plan to annex Crimea before Yanukovich fell: newspaper
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin was presented with a plan to annex the Crimea peninsula and eastern Ukraine before the overthrow of the country’s Moscow-leaning president last year, an independent newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Libyan parliament proposes Haftar, a divisive figure, as head of army
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – The president of Libya’s elected parliament has proposed the appointment of General Khalifa Haftar, who leads his own troops, as commander of the army loyal to the government based in the east of the country, the parliament …
Netanyahu accuses West of forsaking non-nuclear Iran pledge
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rebuffed criticism in Washington of his plans to speak in Congress, accusing world powers of forsaking a pledge to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.




