India clears $8 billion warships project to counter Chinese navy
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s government has cleared a $8 billion plan to build the country’s most advanced warships, defense sources said, just months after ordering new submarines to close the gap with the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean.
Azerbaijan extends detention of human rights activist held without trial
BAKU (Reuters) – An Azeri human rights activist held without trial since July had her detention extended for five months by a court in Baku on Wednesday, her lawyer said, a case critics decry as part of a government-led crackdown on dissent.
U.S. leads 16 more air strikes against Islamic State: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition has staged 16 air strikes against Islamic State, including 14 in Iraq and two in Syria, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
Tunisia militants kill four police in checkpoint attack
TUNIS (Reuters) – Around 20 al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants attacked a checkpoint in Tunisia’s central Kasserine region, killing four police officers and stealing their weapons, the government said on Wednesday.
Fierce crackdown on dissent no laughing matter in Egypt
CAIRO (Reuters) – When President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said people should not moan about Egypt because it was not like war-ravaged Iraq or Syria, his remark gave birth to a joke: New Egyptian passports should read “The Country not like Iraq or Syria.”
India under pressure to explain who blew up Pakistani boat
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Indian government is under pressure to explain what caused a Pakistani fishing boat to explode, killing four people on board in mysterious circumstances, after a senior Indian coast guard official said it was deliberately targ…
Iraq civil war leader rallies Shi’ite fighters against Islamic State
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Abu Deraa sits at home in Baghdad’s Sadr City, ringed by images of 7th century Shi’ite Muslim Imams Ali and Hussein. A hero to Shi’ite militiamen during Iraq’s civil war, he no longer fights but still stirs the hearts of men now bat…
French government tells rebels: back us or go
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s ruling Socialists threatened to evict any rebel backbenchers from the party if they joined a no-confidence vote against the government scheduled for Thursday, underscoring growing tensions in coalition ranks.
Senegal seeks seven-year sentence for ex-president Wade’s son
DAKAR (Reuters) – A Sengalese special prosecutor is seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Karim Wade, the son of a former president, on charges of illicit enrichment, Wade’s lawyer said on Wednesday.
Moldovan parliament set to install new pro-EU prime minister
CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova’s parliament is expected on Wednesday to approve as prime minister 38-year-old businessman Chiril Gaburici, who promises to forge closer ties with Europe, despite fears of a possible Russian backlash.
