Afghan officials get 20 years for handing secrets to Pakistan
Two Afghan military officials were jailed for 20 years after a two-year trial for sharing state secrets with Pakistan, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.
U.N. tallies more than 8,000 Afghan civilian casualties so far this year
At least 8,050 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first nine months of 2018, almost half of them targeted by suicide bomb attacks and other improvised devices that may amount to war crimes, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
UK PM May appeals for cross-parliament backing on Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May appealed to lawmakers in parliament to prioritise the national interest when they are asked to approve whatever exit deal she is able to agree with the European Union.
Lebanon’s Berri says economy ‘very fragile’, new government needed: al-Manar TV
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday the economic situation was “very fragile” and it was time for everyone to “shoulder their responsibilities” so a new government could be formed, al-Manar TV said.
Turkish newspaper names 15 Saudis in missing journalist case
Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah said on Wednesday it had identified a 15-member intelligence team it said was involved in the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pope compares having an abortion to ‘hiring a hit man’
Pope Francis on Wednesday compared having an abortion to “hiring a “hit man” to eliminate a problematic person, in comments sure to be welcomed by conservative Catholics who have accused the pontiff of not speaking out enough on “cultural war” issues.
EU’s Barnier calls for ‘decisive progress’ on Brexit for summit next week
The European Union’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Wednesday called for “decisive progress” in negotiations with Britain in time for a summit of all 28 EU nation leaders next week.
EU to act on visa-for-sale schemes after warnings of money laundering risks
The European Commission said on Wednesday it will provide guidance to EU states on how to manage national schemes to sell passports and residency permits to wealthy foreign citizens, as campaigners and lawmakers warned of money laundering risks.
Frustration, despair grow in Indonesia quake city over planned new homes
Survivors of Indonesia’s double disaster looked to their future with frustration and despair on Wednesday as the government outlined plans to begin reconstruction of homes for tens of thousands of people.
Heavy rains, floods kill at least eight on Spain’s Mallorca
At least eight people including two Britons were killed as heavy rain and flash floods hit the Spanish island of Mallorca late on Tuesday, authorities said.
