Allies promise Iraq $30 billion, falling short of Baghdad’s appeal
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Iraq received pledges of $30 billion, mostly in credit facilities and investment, on Wednesday from allies but this fell short of the $88 billion Baghdad says it needs to recover from three years of war.
U.N. says bombs will litter Mosul for more than a decade
GENEVA (Reuters) – The Iraqi city of Mosul will remain strewn with unexploded bombs for a decade, endangering a million or more civilians who want to return home following the end of three years of Islamic State occupation, a U.N. demining expert said …
U.N. mediator warns of ‘violent, worrying, dangerous’ moment in Syria
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Syria peace mediator warned on Wednesday that a recent increase in violence has created one of the most dangerous moments in years of civil war there, as the government bombards rebel areas and foreign powers further…
Muslim leader urges Macron not to meddle too much in French Islam
PARIS (Reuters) – A leading representative of French Muslims urged Emmanuel Macron not to meddle in the organization of France’s second-largest religion, days after the president said he would try to redefine relations between Islam and the state.
U.S. tells NATO allies spending plans still falling short
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s defense secretary told European allies on Wednesday to step up efforts to increase military budgets and warned that troop contributions to missions did not exempt them from broader spending goals, offi…
No prospect of deal to restore Northern Ireland executive: DUP leader
BELFAST (Reuters) – There is no prospect of Northern Ireland’s main parties agreeing to restore devolved government, the leader of the largest unionist party said on Wednesday, calling on Britain to take further financial control of the province.
Myanmar policeman who detained Reuters pair ‘did not know arrest procedures’
YANGON (Reuters) – A police officer who said he was part of the team that detained two Reuters reporters in Myanmar in December told a court on Wednesday that he was not familiar with police procedures for recording arrests.
France says Syria red line only crossed if gas attacks ‘lethal’: minister
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister on Wednesday sought to clarify his government’s position on the use of chemical weapons in Syria saying that Paris would only strike if the attacks were lethal and carried out by government forces.
Mexico leftist pulls further ahead in presidential race: poll
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has seen his lead ahead of July’s presidential election increase, while the ruling party’s contender has slipped slightly, according to an opinion poll published in a local newspaper o…
Defying Macron, Juncker says sees no transnational lists for 2019 EU elections
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said there was no time to implement transnational voting lists for European Parliament elections next year, putting himself at odds with French President Emmanuel Macron who has cal…
