Time to end al Qaeda presence in Falluja: Iraq’s Maliki
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday it was time to clear al Qaeda-linked militants out of the rebel-held city of Falluja, but set no deadline for any military assault.
Hong Kong mother accused of beating maids with mops, clothes hangers gets bail
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong mother of two who a court heard punched her maids, beat them with mops and threatened to kill their relatives was released on bail on Wednesday after she was formally charged in a case that has triggered outrage.
Texas to execute Mexican national in face of diplomatic protest
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Texas is set to execute Mexican national Edgar Tamayo on Wednesday for killing a Houston police officer in 1994 despite objections from the Mexican government, which said implementing the death penalty would violate internatio…
Thai capital under emergency as pro-government leader shot and wounded in northeast
UDON THANI, Thailand (Reuters) – A leading pro-government activist was shot and wounded on Wednesday in Thailand’s northeast, a stronghold of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as a state of emergency began in the capital where protesters are trying t…
Russian prosecutor seeks five-six years in jail for anti-Putin protesters
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian prosecutor demanded prison terms of between five and six years for eight demonstrators charged with mass disorder at a protest in 2012 against President Vladimir Putin, which if brought down could provoke an outcry before t…
Slovenian Olympic Committee gets terrorist threat in Russian
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – The Slovenian Olympic Committee said on Wednesday it had received a letter containing a terrorist threat ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Vatican bank asks Italy to normalize ties after reforms
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican bank asked Italy on Wednesday to resume financial relations effectively frozen since 2010, saying it had made great progress with new anti-money laundering measures Rome had demanded.
Six of Spanish cyclist’s 12 guards killed in Pakistan’s wild west
QUETTA, Pakistan. (Reuters) – Gunmen on Wednesday shot dead six guards protecting a Spanish cyclist in a violent and remote area of western Pakistan where a bus bomb killed 24 Shi’ite pilgrims a day earlier, police said.
Senior Hungarian lawmaker accuses next U.S. envoy of ‘ignorance’
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – A Hungarian ruling party lawmaker on Wednesday accused the next U.S. ambassador to his country of “ignorance” and bias after she expressed concern over a rise of extremism and an erosion of democratic values in Hungary.
Latvia’s parliament approves first female prime minister
RIGA (Reuters) – Latvia’s parliament approved on Wednesday Laimdota Straujuma to become the first female prime minister of the Baltic state, which joined the euro zone on January 1.
