British artist Ovenden jailed for child sex offences
LONDON (Reuters) – British artist Graham Ovenden was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Wednesday for sexually abusing children after appeals judges ruled a 12-month suspended jail term was too lenient.
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev wins 85 percent in presidential vote, partial count shows
BAKU (Reuters) – Azeri President Ilham Aliyev won nearly 85 percent of votes cast in the oil-rich former Soviet state, a partial count of ballots showed, according to the Central Election Commission.
Twelve Iraqis killed in sectarian violence
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 12 people were killed by roadside bombs and shootings across Iraq on Wednesday and a government convoy came under attack, prompting a senior politician to accuse security services of negligence.
Hezbollah, Iraqi militia capture Damascus suburb: opposition
AMMAN (Reuters) – Iraqi and Lebanese Shi’ite militia backed by Syrian army firepower overran a southern suburb of Damascus on Wednesday, opposition activists said, in a blow to Sunni Muslim rebels trying to hold onto strategic outskirts of the capital….
Kenya denies urging African nations to quit Hague court
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya denied on Wednesday that it was lobbying other African states to pull out of the International Criminal Court, the Hague tribunal that has put its president on trial.
EU lawmakers tighten pilots’ shift limits to reduce fatigue
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) – European Union lawmakers voted on Wednesday for stricter flight time limits for pilots, which the European Commission said would improve safety, although opponents said they were not strict enough.
EU struggles to find united response to Lampedusa tragedy
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The death of hundreds of African migrants in a shipwreck off Sicily has led to anguished calls for Europe-wide action to tackle mass migration, but divisions among EU states mean the bloc’s response is likely to fall short of expec…
Gambia accuses U.S., Britain of plotting to overthrow government
BANJUL (Reuters) – Gambia has accused the United States and Britain of fomenting multiple coup attempts in the tiny West African country and supporting the opposition as part of a plot to destabilize President Yahya Jammeh’s rule.
Cuba allows tourism industry to hire private contractors
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba has authorized its state-run tourism industry to contract out lodgings, meals, excursions and other activities to private businesses in a boost to a growing “non-state” sector.
Azerbaijan’s ruling party claims reelection victory for president
BAKU (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s ruling party claimed President Ilham Aliyev won re-election in the former Soviet republic on Wednesday, citing exit polls that gave him more than 80 percent of the vote.
