France unveils anti-jihad campaign with video and web site
PARIS (Reuters) – France unveiled a short video and web site on Wednesday designed to dissuade potential jihadists from joining Islamist fighting groups in Syria and Iraq, where recruiters have lured hundreds of Westerners using slickly produced clips …
Exclusive: EU draft would extend Russia sanctions over Ukraine escalation
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The EU has prepared a draft statement for the foreign ministers of its 28 members to agree to extend sanctions against Russia by six months, add new people to the sanctions list and prepare new measures.
Amnesty calls for U.N. sanctions, war crimes probe in Libya
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Rights group Amnesty International called on Wednesday for targeted U.N. sanctions and investigations into possible war crimes in Libya to end a cycle of abductions and summary killings by rival armed factions.
Italy police strike blow against Calabrian mob in north
BOLOGNA, Italy (Reuters) – Police conducted a huge dragnet against a Calabrian mafia clan operating in northern Italy on Wednesday, arresting 110 people and seizing more than 100 million euros ($114 million), underlining the mob’s spread to the wealthy…
Iran names new U.N. ambassador months after U.S. bans first choice
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has appointed career diplomat Gholamali Khoshroo as its envoy to the United Nations, state-run Tasnim news agency said, ten months after the United States barred its initial candidate for his role in the 1979-1981 hostage crisis …
Afghan president faces new hurdles as cabinet nominees rejected
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s parliament dealt a new blow to President Ashraf Ghani’s efforts to assemble a government on Wednesday, approving just eight out of 25 cabinet nominees before its winter recess.
Sudanese rebels detain six Bulgarians: Bulgarian foreign ministry
SOFIA (Reuters) – Six Bulgarians working with the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) were detained by Sudanese rebels after their helicopter made an emergency landing in Sudan’s war-torn South Kordofan province, the Bulgarian foreign ministry said.
Bahrain’s most senior opposition leader goes on trial
MANAMA(Reuters) – Bahrain’s top opposition leader went on trial on Wednesday on charges of promoting the violent overthrow of the political system, a case that has riled his followers and inflamed unrest in the Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab state.
Russia unveils $35 billion anti-crisis plan, silent on cuts to pay for it
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia announced a $35 billion “anti-crisis” spending plan on Wednesday to bail out an economy battered by Western sanctions and falling oil prices, but gave few details of the deep cuts it said would be enacted this year to pay for …
EU executive ponders new airline data rules after Paris attacks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission is reviewing plans on sharing airline passenger data to address privacy concerns while still seeking to improve security following militant attacks in Paris.
