Benin says frees Nigerian ex-militant after Jonathan intervenes
COTONOU (Reuters) – Benin freed a former militant leader from Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta region on Friday after a personal intervention by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a government spokesman said.
Libya’s coastguard picks up almost 300 African migrants
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya stopped three boats off its coast packed with almost 300 African migrants apparently trying to reach Europe, the state news agency Lana said on Friday.
Men tried to behead soldier on London street, court hears
LONDON (Reuters) – Two men tried to behead a British soldier in broad daylight on a London street, hacking at his body “like a butcher attacking a joint of meat” in what one said was “eye for an eye” revenge for Britain’s wars against Muslims, a court …
Spain’s anti-protest bill criticized as anti-democratic
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s conservative government agreed on Friday to toughen penalties for unauthorized street protests up to a possible 600,000 euro ($816,000) fine, a crackdown that belies the peaceful record of the anti-austerity protests of recen…
Iran sees nuclear deal implementation starting by early January
VIENNA (Reuters) – The implementation of a landmark deal between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in return for some sanctions relief is expected to start by early January, its envoy to the U.N. atomic agency said on Friday.
Earthquake shakes San Salvador, no major damage reported
SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – An earthquake rattled buildings in San Salvador on Friday morning, although there were no immediate reports of damage.
German policeman held for death of man he met on cannibal website
BERLIN (Reuters) – A German policeman has been arrested after the chopped-up body of a man he met on a fetishist website for cannibalism was found buried in his garden, police in the eastern city of Dresden said on Friday.
Syrian forces re-take town in Qalamoun region
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have recaptured a Christian town on the main highway north of the capital, the army said, putting them back on the offensive in the strategic region near the Lebanese border.
Russian prosecutors seek nine years for acid attack dancer
MOSCOW (Reuters) – State prosecutors demanded a nine-year jail sentence on Friday for a dancer accused of ordering an acid attack that nearly blinded the Bolshoi Ballet’s artistic director and exposed bitter rivalries at one of Russia’s great cultural …
Anti-government protesters break into Thai army compound
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Anti-government protesters briefly forced their way into the compound of Thailand’s army headquarters on Friday in a dramatic escalation of city-wide demonstrations seeking to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
