Australia orders sweeping investigation after deadly hostage siege
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday ordered a sweeping investigation into a deadly hostage siege after tough new security laws and the courts failed to stop a convicted felon from walking into a Sydney cafe with a conc…
Myanmar court jails former opposition official accused of insulting Buddhism
YANGON (Reuters) – A prominent former official with Myanmar’s main opposition party was detained on Wednesday and faces charges of insulting religion, which stemmed from a speech intended to discourage extremist interpretations of Buddhism, his lawyer said.
Inquiry clears British soldiers of murder and torture of Iraqis
LONDON (Reuters) – Allegations that British troops executed captured Iraqi prisoners and tortured or seriously abused others after a battle in 2004 were based on lies, a long-running inquiry concluded on Wednesday, exonerating the armed forces.
After Pakistan school massacre, watch for the gloves to come off
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The massacre of more than 130 Pakistani school children by Taliban gunmen was a chilling reminder of Hillary Clinton’s warning to Islamabad in 2011 that “you can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your nei…
Iran says backs Russian push for Syria talks in Moscow: TASS
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Tehran backs Russia’s efforts to host a new round of peace talks between Damascus and the Syrian opposition, Iran’s deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday during a visit to Moscow.
Church of England appoints its first woman bishop
STOCKPORT, England (Reuters) – The Church of England appointed its first female bishop on Wednesday, overturning centuries of tradition in a Church that has been deeply divided over the issue.
German cabinet approves training mission to Iraq
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German cabinet on Wednesday agreed to send around 100 German troops to northern Iraq to train Kurdish peshmerga forces fighting Islamic State (IS) militants.
Youth killed in clashes with police in southeast Turkey
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A 17-year-old boy was shot dead during armed clashes between police and assailants in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey overnight and one police officer was wounded, security sources said on Wednesday.
India’s Modi orders party to rein in pro-Hindu agenda
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned his lawmakers for the first time to stop promoting controversial issues such as religious conversions and to focus on economic reforms as he struggles to pass legislation needed to kickst…
Pope Francis condemns attacks in Australia, Pakistan, Yemen
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned what he called “inhuman terrorist acts” in three different countries this week and prayed that violent militants be converted to peace.
