G7 willing to step up sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The world’s leading industrialized nations threatened on Wednesday to impose harder-hitting sanctions on Russia if it does not help restore stability to eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian militias continue to operate at will.
Assad declared landslide victor in wartime Syrian election
BEIRUT (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad has secured a landslide victory in a wartime election that was condemned as a sham by his opponents but demonstrated his tenacious hold on power after three years of brutal civil war.
U.N. voices ‘grave concern’ at persistent South Sudan violence
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned the continued bloodshed in South Sudan in violation of two ceasefire agreements and urged both sides in the conflict to halt all military operations in keeping with pr…
Kuwait suspends TV programs over report related to ‘plot’ tape
DUBAI (Reuters) – Kuwait has banned several television news channels from airing programs about an investigation into a recording that discusses an alleged plot against the ruling system, state news agency KUNA reported on Wednesday.
Suspected Islamists kill dozens in northeast Nigeria
MAIDUGURI Nigeria (Reuters) – Suspected Islamist militants have killed dozens of civilians in three villages in northeastern Nigeria, a region now hit by almost daily attacks, a security source and a victim’s relative said on Wednesday.
Obama served up lesson in leadership at Warsaw banquet
WARSAW (Reuters) – When Lech Walesa, the man whose Solidarity movement helped bring down the Iron Curtain, found himself sitting across from Barack Obama at a banquet in the Polish capital on Tuesday evening, he offered the younger man a piece of advic…
Drone strike kills three suspected militants in Yemen: sources
SANAA (Reuters) – A drone strike killed at least three suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen on Wednesday night, tribal sources said.
Fighting rages in eastern Ukraine town, residents flee
NEAR SLAVIANSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian government forces battled separatists with artillery and automatic weapons on Wednesday in a second day of fighting in and around Slaviansk, forcing many residents to flee.
Bangladesh hopes to solve debate over unsafe garment factories soon
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh government officials said on Wednesday they hope to solve a crisis over their decision to not shut down six garment factories deemed unsafe by experts hired by western clothing brands.
Assad wins Syria election with 88.7 percent of votes: speaker
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Bashar al-Assad won 88.7 percent of the vote in Syria’s presidential election, parliament speaker Mohammad al-Laham said on Wednesday, securing a third term in office despite a raging civil war which grew out of protests against his …
