IN BRIEF (Page 11)

11 more girls kidnapped in Nigeria

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped 11 more girls from two villages in northeastern Nigeria on Tuesday night as the United States made plans to help search for more than 200 schoolgirls seized by the militant group last month.

Lavrov: Europe ignoring a resurgence of fascism

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Europe of turning a blind eye to the rebirth of fascist ideology in Ukraine, pointing to the deaths of 42 pro-Russian protesters in a fire in Odessa on May 2 as evidence of fascist violence.

Cats blamed for decline of marsupials

Small, furry marsupials such as the bandicoot, quoll and tree possum are in dramatic decline in northern Australia, and feral cats could be the cause, according to an analysis reported on Wednesday.

Syrian rebels start pullout in Homs

Rebels started withdrawing from the heart of the Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday, leaving an early center of the revolt against the Syrian government and handing President Bashar al-Assad a symbolic victory less than a month before his likely re-election.

Replacement named for ousted Yingluck

Thailand's prime minister was ordered to step down on Wednesday, along with part of her caretaker Cabinet, after the Constitutional Court found her guilty in an abuse-of-power case, pushing the country deeper into political turmoil.

Manila's seizure of Chinese boat 'pure belligerence'

Manila illegally seized 11 Chinese fishermen and a boat from waters off China's Half Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands, a move likely to escalate tension in the South China Sea.

Philippine munitions depot blast injures 24

Twenty-four people were injured when fire and a series of explosions struck a Philippine army munitions depot near the country's financial district on Wednesday, officials and witnesses said.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Egypt's Sisi won't assuage rift with the Brotherhood

Egyptian presidential frontrunner Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared to rule out reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood movement on Monday, raising the specter of a prolonged conflict with a group he said was finished.

Neighbor of Pistorius testifies at murder trial

The former neighbor of Oscar Pistorius testified at the athlete's murder trial on Tuesday, giving evidence on the night he shot his girlfriend dead, saying he heard a man crying loudly and that he called the security of the housing estate for help.

EU: No armed intervention in Ukraine

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy ruled out EU military intervention to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, according to ITAR-Tass.