Drastic staff cuts at U.S. Embassy in Cuba now permanent
HAVANA (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it was making permanent its decision last year to slash staffing at its Havana embassy by around two-thirds because a spate of alleged health incidents among its diplomats remained unsolved.
Suicide bomber rams car into Somali military base, military says
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A suicide bomber rammed a car into a Somali military base about 30 km (20 miles) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, killing one soldier, the military said.
After months without contact, Merkel eyes ‘reset’ with Trump
BERLIN (Reuters) – Before a phone conversation this week to discuss the war in Syria and Russian nuclear arms, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump had not spoken to each other in over five months.
Thousands march for slain Slovak journalist who probed corruption
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Thousands marched in Bratislava and other Slovak cities on Friday for murdered investigative journalist Jan Kuciak, demanding swift action in response to a killing that has shocked the country and shaken its government.
Colombian academic seeks to heal divided nation as president
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Sergio Fajardo, a front-runner for May’s presidential election in Colombia, likes to draw diagrams to explain his vision to revive the South American country’s economy and bridge the chasm between its rich and poor.
Italy’s 5-Star rallies voters as center-right frets
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s 5-Star Movement closed its election campaign with an upbeat rally in Rome on Friday after leaders on the center-right, its biggest rival, were caught on an open microphone bemoaning the anti-establishment party’s popularity.
Europe wary of May’s ideas for post-Brexit harmony
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union officials reacted warily on Friday to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposals to maintain trade ties after Brexit, welcoming her tone but describing some of her demands as unrealistic.
Ex-head of Vatican bank sent to trial on embezzlement charge
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A former president of the Vatican Bank has been ordered to stand trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering, the Vatican said, the highest ranking Holy See financial official to be indicted.
U.S. makes staff reduction at Havana embassy permanent
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department said on Friday it would operate its Havana embassy with minimum personnel on a permanent basis from next week, given the cause of an alleged spate of health incidents affecting its diplomats in Cu…
German government hack was part of worldwide campaign: sources
BERLIN (Reuters) – A powerful cyber attack on Germany’s government computer network was part of a worldwide campaign likely carried out by a Russian hacker group known as Snake, sources briefed on the incident said on Friday.
