An Islamist charity plans to send a new aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip this year to challenge Israel’s naval blockade there, the group announced Tuesday. The organization — the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, known as I.H.H. — said it would also organize demonstrations at

Teenagers in the UK are being offered the opportunity to learn cyber defence skills from Northrop Grumman, manufacturer of the USAF’s B-2 Stealth Bomber. The defence giant is partnering with the government-backed Cyber Security Challenge UK to engage thousands of 12- to 18-year-old Army cadets, scout groups, schools and colleges

World stock markets ticked higher on Wednesday, lifted by brighter corporate results and as oil prices plumbed 13-month lows with ample supply offseting output disruption risks posed by tensions in Iraq and Libya. via World stocks rise as oil plumbs 13-month low | Reuters.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is ready to call a special foreign ministers’ meeting as early as this week and is talking to EU governments about it, a spokesman said on Wednesday. via EU’s Ashton ready to call special meeting on Iraq, Ukraine | Reuters.

Islamic State insurgents have seized several towns and villages from rival Islamist groups in the Syrian province of Aleppo, opening the way for further westward advances, an organization monitoring the war in Syria said on Wednesday. via Islamic State seizes more territory in Syria: monitor | Reuters.

Thailand’s military government gave preliminary approval on Wednesday for a draft law to make commercial surrogacy a criminal offense, following a spate of dramatic surrogacy scandals in the past two weeks. via Thai military government moves to outlaw commercial surrogacy | Reuters.

Japan “strongly protested” on Wednesday against Russian military exercises on Pacific islands that it also claims and which have been at the root of strained relations between the two countries since the end of World War Two. The exercises on the disputed islands are a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo

The military in Colombia says it is sending more troops to the eastern province of Arauca, a rebel stronghold, to deal with a recent wave of attacks via BBC News – Colombia sends more troops to ELN rebel stronghold.

he Czech government is looking for ways to supply weapons to Iraqi Kurds battling Islamic State militants, including through private companies, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek was quoted as saying on Wednesday. via Czechs looking at ways to supply arms to Iraqi Kurds – foreign minister | Reuters.

The head of police in the Libyan capital Tripoli has been killed by unknown gunmen. Col Muhammad Suwaysi was shot while leaving a meeting in Tajoura, a suburb in the east of the capital. via BBC News – Libya crisis: Head of Tripoli police ‘assassinated’.