Italy Senate chief gets mission (almost) impossible to form government
ROME (Reuters) – Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday asked the head of the upper house Senate to meet bickering party leaders to see if she can break the deadlock following inconclusive elections six weeks ago.
Iran bans state bodies from using Telegram app, Khamenei shuts account
LONDON (Reuters) – Iran banned government bodies on Wednesday from using the popular Telegram instant messaging app as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office said his account would shut down to protect national security, Iranian media reported….
With Jews largely gone from Iraq, memories survive in Israel
BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Behind the high concrete walls of Baghdad’s Jewish cemetery, Violette Saul lies at rest under a weathered and cracked tombstone, one of the last memorials to an ancient community that is now all but extinct.
British regulator opens seven investigations into Russia’s RT news channel
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s media regulator has opened seven investigations into whether Russian news channel RT broke impartiality rules in broadcasts made since a Russian double-agent was poisoned in the English city of Salisbury last month.
Russia: our response to U.S. sanctions will be precise and painful
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament, said on Wednesday that Moscow’s response to U.S. sanctions will be targeted and painful, Russian news agencies reported.
Philippines’ Duterte says he ordered investigation of Australian nun
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he ordered the investigation into a 71-year-old Australian nun for “disorderly conduct”, justifying it as a legal move against “undesirable” foreigners.
Explainer: North Korea peace deal – Neither a new nor a simple idea
SEOUL (Reuters) – The two Koreas, ahead of a leaders’ summit next week, are discussing a peace agreement that could officially end the state of war that has technically lasted since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice not a treaty.
Russian news agencies say US told Moscow no new sanctions for now
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration had informed the Russian embassy in Washington that the United States had no immediate plans to impose new sanctions.
Britain opens seven investigations into Russia’s RT news channel
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s media regulator said it had opened seven investigations into whether Russian news channel RT had broken impartiality rules in broadcasts made since a Russian double-agent was poisoned in the English city of Salisbury last m…
Greek ferries docked at ports as seamen strike against reforms
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek ferries remained docked at the country’s ports on Wednesday as seamen, marine engineers and ship cooks walked off the job to protest against planned government reforms which they say will further hurt their labor rights.
