From Washington,this is VOA News.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan defense treaty applies to a group of disputed islands that were included in China's bid to establish an air defense zone.

A Pentagon spokesman says Mr Hagel spoke Wednesday with his Japanese counterpart to discuss the security situation in the East China Sea.

Senior Obama administration officials say U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will discuss the issue with officials in China next week as part of his upcoming three-nation tour of the region, which will include a stop in Japan as well.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced it had flown two unarmed B-52 bombers near the disputed islands on the first direct challenge to Beijing's bid to establish an air defense zone.

Authorities in Mali have arrested the leader of last year's coup, General Amadou Sanogo, and charged him with murder.
 
Sanogo's communications director told VOA security forces took Sanogo from his home in central Bamako on Wednesday and brought him before a judge whose summons the general had repeatedly ignored.
 
Mali's prosecutor-general Daniel Tessouge later confirmed to VOA that Sanogo has been indicted on charges of murder and assassination in connection with the killing of army "Red Beret" soldiers in April 2012, during a counter-coup attempt.

Egyptian authorities have ordered the arrest of two leading political activists in connection with a new law limiting protests.

VOA's Elizabeth Arrott has more from Cairo.

Egypt's top prosecutor accuses activists Ahmed Maher and Alaa Abdel Fattah of inciting protests in response to the new law on demonstrations.

Egyptian human rights groups say 50 protesters have already been arrested following Tuesday's demonstrations.

The new law says protesters must give authorities three days notice of any public gatherings.  Failure to do so could result in fines of more than $40,000 and up to seven years in prison.

The law, which went into effect Sunday, was widely seen as an attempt to curb recurring protests by the Muslim Brotherhood angry over the ouster in July of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Elizabeth Arrott, VOA News,Cairo.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said his country will not stop its nuclear enrichment activity, while pledging to have "constructive interaction" with the international community.

Mr Rouhani spoke days after Iran agreed to an interim deal with the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany to limit portions of its nuclear program in exchange for targeted relief from international sanctions.

Under the six-month agreement, Iran can continue enriching uranium, but only up to 5 percent, a level that is suitable for generating power.

The president of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Muslim-Croat federation has been charged with abuse of power for allegedly pardoning criminals.

Prosecutors say Zivko Budimir illegally pardoned 27 people, including convicted murderers, tax evaders and drug dealers.

Mr Budimir, who was arrested earlier this year and released, has denied the charges.

Ukrainians on Wednesday kept up their nearly week-long protest against the government's decision not to sign a landmark trade deal with the EU in favor of increasing ties with Russia.

Some observers are wondering if other former Soviet republics will come under Russia and Kremlin regarding the EU agreement.

VOA's James Brooke has more now from MOSCOW.

Leaders of the 28 nations of European Naion are arriving in Vilnius, Lithuania for meetings on Thursday and Friday with leaders of six former Soviet Republics.

But two of those countries - Belarus and Azerbaijan - are not interested in signing free trade and political association agreements with the EU.  and two others - Ukraine and Armenia - recently backed out of signing, bowing to heavy Russian pressure.

Only the two remaining countries - Moldova and Georgia - say they will ignore Russian pressure and initial the EU agreements.

James Brooke,VOA News,MOSCOW.

The number of people infected with HIV in Europe and nearby nations has risen 8 percent in the past year, with the majority of cases in eastern Europe and central Asia.

The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Wednesday showing that some 131,000 new HIV infections.

And more at geilien.cn.