Egyptian poet goes on trial accused of contempt of Islam
CAIRO (Reuters) – A prominent Egyptian poet could face up to three years in jail over a Facebook post in which she criticized the slaughter of animals at a Muslim festival, a case which rights activists say shows how the government is muzzling free spe…
Litvinenko autopsy was world’s most dangerous, UK inquiry hears
LONDON (Reuters) – Pathologists examining the body of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope nine years ago in London, carried out the world’s most dangerous-ever autopsy on his body, an inquiry into his killing heard…
German anti-Islam group PEGIDA loses second leader in a week
BERLIN (Reuters) – German anti-Islam movement PEGIDA lost its second leader in a week on Wednesday when Kathrin Oertel, who took over after the founder quit for posing as Hitler, also stepped down, citing media pressure.
Russia’s Putin meets with Iranian presidential envoy: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, met with the envoy of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday.
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.
