UK: Iran conducting secret ballistic missile tests and launches
LONDON (AP) — Iran has conducted covert tests of ballistic missiles in addition to a 10-day program of public military maneuvers, Britain alleged on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary William Hague told the House of Commons that there had been secret experiments with missiles that would be able to deliver a nuclear weapon, but did not specify precisely when the tests had taken place.
Iran has “been carrying out covert ballistic missiles tests and rocket launches,” Hague said.
 
Two French journalists freed after being held captive in Afghanistan
PARIS (AP) — Two French journalists held hostage in Afghanistan since December 2009 were freed Wednesday in good health in France, which has been united in its campaign to bring the two men home.
Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere, in captivity for nearly 550 days, were freed along with the journalists’ translator, Reza Din, authorities said.
Two other Afghans held with them were freed earlier, but nothing was said in order to keep negotiations on track, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.
 
Greece backs austerity vote despite violent protests from citizens
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece approved more austerity measures needed to avert default next month, in a vote Wednesday that calmed markets but triggered a second day of riots.
The passage of the bill was a decisive step for the country to get the next batch of bailout loans from international creditors and was met with relief in markets and by Greece’s partners in the eurozone. A Greek default could potentially trigger a banking crisis in Europe.
 
Arizona police confirm 2nd hacking attack on officers’ email account
PHOENIX (AP) — A second computer hacking attack in as many weeks against Arizona state police targeted personal email accounts of some of its officers, an official confirmed Wednesday.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is reviewing the information released by a group calling itself AntiSec, agency spokesman Capt. Steve Harrison said. An attack last week by the computer hacking collective group Lulz Security targeted officers’ DPS emails.
 
Gay marriage foes target New York senators who flipped their votes
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A group that opposes gay marriage promised to spend at least $2 million to oust seven state senators who changed their positions to make New York the sixth state where same-sex unions are legal.
The Washington-based National Organization for Marriage said in a fundraising email to supporters that it is committed to helping elect majorities in 2012 that support marriage as being between only a man and a woman.
 
Shootings trial: Officer says she saw two armed men fleeing scene
(AP) — A police officer whose frantic radio call led to a deadly encounter between police and residents on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina testified Wednesday that she heard gunfire and saw two armed men before she summoned help.
Officer Jennifer Dupree, a government witness in the federal trial of five current or former officers charged in the fatal shootings and an alleged cover-up, said she heard the shots and saw two men with guns running away while she and other officers were on a high-rise bridge that runs parallel to the Danziger Bridge.
 
Shaw Group wins bid to build a new generator for Entergy in 2015
(AP) — The Shaw Group Inc. says it has won the contract to build Entergy Louisiana a new electricity generating unit at its Ninemile Point plant in Westwego.
The utility announced the $721 million project last week. The Louisiana Public Service Commission has to approve the project.
Plans call for the unit, which will burn natural gas, to begin generating by mid-2015. It will replace two 1950s-era generators.
——
Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at [email protected]