Syrian air force strikes increasing, civilians killed: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian air force launched about 1,592 strikes across Syria over the past month, killing at least 396 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
Taliban suicide bombers die in attack on international zone in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Four Afghan Taliban suicide bombers died when a group of the militants tried to storm an international zone in Kabul on Wednesday in the latest high-profile assault aimed at foreign targets in Afghanistan.
Egyptian police fire tear gas, arrest 25 people commemorating 2011 protests
CAIRO (Reuters) – Police fired tear gas and arrested 25 people on Wednesday in central Cairo where hundreds had gathered to commemorate dozens of protesters killed by security forces in 2011, Egypt’s interior ministry told state news agency MENA.
Britain’s last governor in Hong Kong to address U.S. China commission
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, is to address a U.S. government commission on Thursday on prospects for democracy in the territory, something likely to irritate Beijing which sees protests there as an intern…
Russia’s relations with Hungary warm as ties with West chill
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin hailed Hungary as one of Russia’s most important partners on Wednesday, giving his seal of approval to a budding relationship with a Soviet-era ally that is worrying some of its European Union allies.
Burkina Faso names army colonel Zida as prime minister
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, four days after he restored the country’s constitution under pressure from the African Union and the West.
Bahrain releases pro-democracy activist awaiting trial
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini authorities released pro-democracy activist Zainab al-Khawaja from detention on Wednesday, her lawyer and sister said, as she awaits trial over a charge of insulting Bahrain’s king by tearing up his picture.
Colombian soccer club laundered money for drug cartel: U.S. Treasury
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian soccer club Envigado helped launder money for a drug trafficking group, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday, blacklisting the team under the anti-crime Kingpin Act.
Swiss protesters to stop lobbying annual Davos Economic Forum
GENEVA (Reuters) – Anti-corporate activists declared moral victory over the annual Davos World Economic Forum of global business and political leaders on Wednesday and said they would no longer lobby there after the next meeting in January.
Weary Italy vents its rage in spate of strikes and protest
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s social fabric is fraying. People worn down by years of economic stagnation and austerity are suddenly giving vent to their frustrations with a spate of strikes and spontaneous protests which have taken politicians by surprise.
