Cypriot-flagged freighter runs aground off a Greek Aegean island
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek authorities have rescued all crew members of a Cypriot-flagged freighter which ran aground off a Greek Aegean island early on Wednesday, the Greek coastguard said on Wednesday.
Nigeria military promises neutrality after poll delay
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military pledged not to get involved in party politics on Wednesday, after concerns grew about its role in pushing for the country’s presidential election to be delayed by six weeks.
Leader of Belgian militant Islamist group sentenced to 12 years
ANTWERP, Belgium (Reuters) – A Belgian court jailed the head of Sharia4Belgium for 12 years on Wednesday, ruling that his Islamist group was a terrorist organization that brainwashed young men into joining militants in the Middle East.
Bahrain puts off rights activist’s appeal hearing to March 4
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain has postponed until March 4 a hearing by Nabeel Rajab, one of the Arab world’s most prominent democracy campaigners, on his appeal against a conviction for publicly insulting two state institutions, according to his Twitter a…
China’s Xi says treasures friendship with Vietnam, despite dispute
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday told the head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party he treasured the two nations’ traditional friendship, but disagreements needed careful handling to ensure regional stability amid an ugly di…
African children subject to ‘alarming’ levels of violence
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Children across Africa face unacceptably high levels of physical, sexual and emotional violence at home, at school and in the streets, researchers specializing in children’s rights said on Wednesday.
Malaysia arrests cartoonist for criticizing Anwar verdict judges
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has arrested a cartoonist for sedition over a Twitter post that criticized the judiciary for upholding a five-year jail term for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who accused the courts of “bowing to the dictates of the…
Foreign militants a growing danger on home soil: U.S. envoy
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The danger of foreign fighters and self-radicalized individuals who support Islamic State (IS) mounting attacks in their home countries is growing even as the fight against the militants makes progress, a U.S. official said on Wed…
Obama seeks some limits on ground troops for Islamic State fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will propose to Congress on Wednesday a new three-year authorization for the use of force against Islamic State with limits on U.S. combat troops’ involvement, lawmakers and congressional aides said.
Hong Kong lawmakers urge ban on bitcoin as scam victims turn to police
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday urged authorities to ban bitcoin as more than 25 people flocked to police headquarters to complain over a scam involving the digital currency that media estimate could have duped investors of up to…
