Russia reduces charges against Greenpeace activists over Arctic protest
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia on Wednesday dropped piracy charges against 30 people involved in a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling, replacing them with lesser offences and cutting the maximum jail sentence they face to seven years from 15.
Suicide attack kills two Chadian UN troops, child in Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) – A suicide blast killed two Chadian troops from the U.N. mission in Mali and injured six other peacekeepers in an assault on a checkpoint at the entry to the northern town of Tessalit on Wednesday.
Much of Syria blacked out by rebel attack on gas pipeline: government
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Much of Syria, including the capital Damascus, was hit by a power cut late on Wednesday after rebels attacked a gas pipeline, state media said.
Egypt military officers back army chief for president
CAIRO (Reuters) – Anxious over months of turmoil in Egypt, military officers are pushing popular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for president, after a 2011 popular uprising had inspired hopes for democratic change in a country long dominated by…
Mexico ruling party ready to back higher junk food tax: lawmaker
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is ready to support an opposition proposal to increase a planned tax on junk food, the party’s leader in the Senate said on Wednesday.
Congo’s Kabila pledges unity government, pressures rebels
KINSHASA (Reuters) – President Joseph Kabila said on Wednesday he would create a national unity government in an attempt to end years of crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo, a move cautiously welcomed by some rivals but which analysts warned could d…
Tunisia PM confirms ready to resign under deal with opponents
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh confirmed on Wednesday his Islamist-led government was ready to step down once it has completed negotiations with the opposition to form a caretaker administration to take the country to new electi…
Greek police arrest second Roma couple suspected of child abduction
ATHENS (Reuters) – A second Roma couple have been arrested in Greece on suspicion of abducting a child, just a week after the discovery of a girl dubbed the “blonde angel” made headlines around the world.
Canadian prime minister under pressure over expenses scandal
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s main opposition leader accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday of creating a “culture of corruption” as Harper faced an expenses scandal that looked to be spiraling into the biggest crisis of his seven years in of…
Ivory Coast youth leader asks government to reject ICC warrant
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Charles Ble Goude, wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and an ally of Ivory Coast’s ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, should be tried by an Ivorian court and not sent to The Hague, the ex-youth leader’s…
