Powerful Afghan regional leader ousted as political picture clouds
KABUL (Reuters) – One of Afghanistan’s most powerful regional politicians was ousted as governor of the northern province of Balkh on Monday, setting up a confrontation that adds to the uncertainty around President Ashraf Ghani’s Western-backed governm…
Kremlin-backed broadcaster launches French language news channel in wary Paris
PARIS (Reuters) – The Kremlin-funded Russian broadcaster RT was due to launch its French language news channel on Monday night amid heavy suspicion by the government and President Emmanuel Macron who has dubbed it “an organ of propaganda”.
U.S. vetoes U.N. call for withdrawal of Trump Jerusalem decision
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States was further isolated on Monday over President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital when it blocked a United Nations Security Council call for the declaration to be withdrawn.
5-Star leader says Italy should quit euro unless rules change
ROME (Reuters) – The leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, Luigi Di Maio, said on Monday that Italy should quit the euro zone unless it manages to change the bloc’s rules on public finances.
South Africa’s Ramaphosa wins election as ANC president
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected leader of the African National Congress on Monday in a close-run vote that will set the direction for the country and the scandal-plagued party that has ruled since the…
Blackout hits parts of Venezuelan capital Caracas
CARACAS (Reuters) – A blackout hit parts of the Venezuelan capital Caracas as well as the nearby states of Miranda and Vargas during the afternoon on Monday, in what critics said was another sign of the oil-rich nation’s economic meltdown.
German ex-rightist jailed for plotting Islamist attack on police
BERLIN (Reuters) – A German court sentenced a 27-year-old German supporter of Islamic State to three years and three months in prison on Monday for plotting to lure police or soldiers into a trap and kill them with a home-made bomb.
Israel believes U.S. will veto U.N. resolution on Jerusalem
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Israel said it believes its longtime ally the United States will veto a United Nations Security Council on Monday that would call on U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capi…
Tillerson, Canadian counterpart to discuss security, other issues
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday to discuss border security and other issues, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.
As Syrian couples say ‘I do,’ Lebanon says ‘No, not quite’
BEKAA, Lebanon (Reuters) – In a tent in Lebanon surrounded by snow, Syrian refugees Ammar and Khadija were married by a tribal leader from their homeland in a wedding they would soon come to regret.
