BAMAKO, Mali – A Mali army official says at least two soldiers were killed in an ambush in the country’s north. Col. Souleymane Maiga said Monday that three more troops were wounded during the attack Sunday near Douekire, 30 miles (45 kilometers) west of the city of Timbuktu. The troops …
Read More »Russian woman arrested on treason charges after giving Ukraine information about troops' moves
MOSCOW – A Russian court has arrested a mother of seven on treason charges for providing Ukraine with information on Russian troop movements. Moscow’s Lefortovsky court put Svetlana Davydova in custody last week on the charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years. The court didn’t provide …
Read More »Ex-leader from PEGIDA 'anti-Islamization' movement in Germany founding new organization
BERLIN – A former leader of German group anti-Islam group PEGIDA says she’s starting a new organization to campaign for more referendums in politics. Kathrin Oertel said Monday that she and several others are founding “Direct Democracy for Europe,” which she said would stand for conservative values and position itself …
Read More »Putin invites new Greek premier to visit Moscow, as Athens, Germany trade barbs over Russia
ATHENS, Greece – Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Greece’s new prime minister to Moscow in May, as Athens and Berlin publicly traded barbs over European Union policy on Ukraine. Alexis Tsipras expressed his intention to attend May 9 celebrations for the World War II victory over Nazism, his office …
Read More »Animal keeper dies after being attacked by lions at South Korean zoo
SEOUL, South Korea – A zoo in South Korea’s capital says an animal keeper has died after apparently being attacked by two lions. Seoul Children’s Grand Park official Jisun Lee said a colleague found the man unconscious and bleeding heavily from his neck and legs in the animals’ enclosure, as …
Read More »Scandal-hit HSBC issues public apology amid political firestorm over tax dodge scandal
LONDON – Scandal-hit HSBC, Britain’s largest bank, has issued a public apology, saying that the media firestorm that followed allegations it had helped rich clients dodge taxes had been a painful experience. Chief executive Stuart Gulliver says the allegations deal with historical practices that are no longer in place. He …
Read More »Dozens of graves vandalized, crucifixes upended in northern France cemetery
PARIS – Dozens of gravesites in a small-town cemetery in northern France have been vandalized, days after massive destruction at a Jewish cemetery in the country. France’s Interior Ministry said crucifixes were overturned and gravesites disturbed. The vandalism in Tracy-sur-Mer, a tiny town next to the D-Day landing beaches, was …
Read More »German court seeks EU advice on whether Greek teacher can claim back austerity pay cuts
BERLIN – German judges are seeking a European Union court’s advice on whether a teacher at a Greek school in Germany can claim back pay cuts caused by Greece’s austerity drive. The Greek citizen, who worked at a Greek government-backed school in Nuremberg, has claimed compensation of more than 20,000 …
Read More »Liberian leader's son, fresh off a loss in a Senate race, not ruling out presidential bid
MONROVIA, Liberia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s son, who just suffered a defeat in Liberia’s Senate elections, is not ruling out a run for his mother’s job. Robert Sirleaf lost a December election to George Weah, a former soccer star and current opposition leader. He was once a presidential adviser …
Read More »Militant ambush kills 2 soldiers, wounds 3 others in Tunisia near Algerian border
TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia’s army spokesman says an ambush by extremists in a mountainous region near the Algerian border has killed two soldiers and wounded three others. Brig. Gen. Belhassen Oueslati told the state news agency Tuesday that the attack took place near the mountain of Mghilla in the central …
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