Egypt defends itself at U.N. amid outcry over jailing of journalists
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Egypt defended its judicial system at the United Nations on Wednesday amid a global outcry over the jailing of al Jazeera journalists, telling diplomats and reporters that it respects the role of the media and does not consid…
Palestinians end hunger strike against Israeli detention without trial
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Scores of Palestinians on hunger strike suspended their protest against detention without charge by Israel on Wednesday, but an Israeli official denied suggestions there had been any major change of policy in return.
Southeast Asia fears militant fallout as Mideast conflict widens
KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK (Reuters) – Four gun-wielding rebel fighters sit relaxing on a wall, their faces concealed by scarves and ski masks. All are Indonesians who came to Syria to join the Islamist insurgency, the cameraman says, speaking Indonesian pep…
Suicide bomber hits hotel near Saudi embassy in Beirut
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed himself and wounded at least four security officers at a hotel in Beirut close to the Saudi Arabian embassy on Wednesday, Lebanese security sources said, the third blast in Lebanon in less than a week.
Polish PM Tusk wins confidence vote despite tapes scandal
WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday won a vote of confidence in parliament, facing down for now at least opponents who say he should quit over leaked conversations between senior officials that embarrassed the government.
Polish PM Tusk wins confidence vote despite tapes scandal
WARSAW (Reuters) – Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government won the parliamentary vote of confidence on Wednesday after secret recordings of senior officials plunged Poland into its worst political crisis for years.
More U.S., EU sanctions depend on Putin’s choices on Ukraine: Kerry
BRUSSELS/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to a peace plan for Ukraine will decide whether the United States and Europe step up sanctions, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.
Crime-ridden state poses acid test for Mexican oil reform
TAMPICO Mexico (Reuters) – During Mexico’s first oil boom, Tampico was such a magnet for foreign capital that it became the biggest oil-exporting port in the Americas and home to grandiose architecture that inspired comparisons to Venice and New Orlean…
Libyans slow to vote for new parliament in test for transition
TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Less than a third of Libyan voters had gone to the polls by late afternoon on Wednesday in a parliamentary election overshadowed by violence.
In defense of Rebekah Brooks: a British lawyer cripples the prosecution case
LONDON (Reuters) – Just weeks before her trial on phone-hacking charges was due to start, Rebekah Brooks got some crushing news: the former head of Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper arm learnt that her main defense lawyer could no longer represent her…
