Bahrain says expels representative of Shi’ite Ayatollah Sistani
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain expelled a prominent Shi’ite religious figure on Wednesday, accusing him of acting as a representative of influential Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani without permission.
UK says scrambles jets to see off Russian planes near Scotland
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain on Wednesday scrambled Typhoon fighter jets to see off Russian military planes flying close to its airspace off the coast of Scotland, a spokeswoman from the defense ministry said.
At least 63 killed as speeding Congo train derails: government official
KINSHASA (Reuters) – At least 63 people were killed and 80 were seriously injured in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Katanga province when a train speeding too fast round a bend derailed, a provincial minister said on Wednesday.
Brazil’s Rousseff praises U.S. for relaxing grip on Internet
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff praised the United States on Wednesday for its decision to ease control over the Internet and called for a more democratic, transparent network following the U.S. National Security Agency spying s…
Italy’s Renzi wins confidence vote on temporary labor rule
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi easily won a confidence vote on Wednesday over his plans to ease rules for companies that hire temporary workers, part of a broader plan to overhaul labor regulations.
Mine injures peacekeeper as diplomats visit Mali’s Kidal
BAMAKO (Reuters) – A mine exploded in the northern Malian town of Kidal on Wednesday, seriously injuring a United Nations peacekeeper from Guinea but not affecting a delegation of visiting diplomats, a U.N. spokesman said.
Syrians’ plight worsens, hope for political deal fades
GENEVA (Reuters) – Hopes for a political deal to end Syria’s war are fading and it is getting harder every day to send aid to millions of trapped and displaced civilians, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said on Wednesday.
Children’s corpses reveal desperate attempts to escape Korean ferry
MOKPO/SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean divers swam though dark, cold waters into a sunken ferry on Wednesday, feeling for children’s bodies with their hands in a maze of cabins, corridors and upturned decks as they searched for hundreds of missing.
First candidate for Syria’s presidential election steps forward
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian lawmaker has nominated himself for president, state media said on Wednesday, the first candidate in an election likely to cement President Bashar al-Assad’s rule over a country devastated by civil war.
Saudi prince says Gulf states must balance threat from Iran
DUBAI (Reuters) – A senior member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family said on Wednesday that Gulf states should work on acquiring nuclear know-how to balance any threat from Iran.
