Russia resists Western bid to condemn Iran at U.N. over Yemen arms
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council should not condemn Iran in a resolution to renew sanctions on Yemen, Russia’s U.N. ambassador said on Wednesday, resisting a Western bid to denounce Tehran for failing to stop Yemen’s Houth…
Merkel ally blasts foreign minister for questioning NATO target
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany risks losing international credibility if it retreats from its commitment to increase military spending towards the NATO target, a key member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives said on Wednesday.
Leaders to discuss EU money, top jobs after Brexit
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Money and top jobs will be the main topics of an informal summit of 27 European Union leaders on Friday, as the bloc tries to deal with the consequences of Britain’s exit from the EU in 2019.
Bahrain rights activist jailed for five years for ‘insulting’ tweets
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Bahraini human rights activist was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for criticizing Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Yemen and accusing Bahrain’s prison authorities of torture, his lawyer and fellow activists said.
Venezuela opposition to boycott ‘fraudulent’ presidential vote
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition coalition said on Wednesday it could not participate in a “fraudulent, illegitimate” presidential election on April 22 due to unfair conditions created by President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Hungary slides deeper down corruption index, watchdog says
BERLIN (Reuters) – Hungary slid further down the global corruption league table this year, continuing a downward trend under rightwing leader Viktor Orban, who has exerted control over the courts and the media, watchdog Transparency International said …
EU guidelines on future British relations due in March, with or without London’s input
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders will issue guidelines for chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in March on the future relationship he should negotiate with Britain, regardless of whether London clarifies what it wants, a senior EU officia…
French opposition leader Wauquiez under fire over taped comments
PARIS (Reuters) – French right-wing opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez came under fire on Wednesday for taped comments in which he sniped at politicians in his own camp and government, often using rough language, prompting a senior party member to quit…
Macron’s EU debate idea gains momentum after Poland joins in
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron has won support from 25 of the EU’s remaining 27 states for his idea to hold democratic debates on the future of Europe later this year, with Hungary and the Netherlands still needing convincing, a Fre…
U.S.-led air strike in Somalia kills three al Shabaab militants: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S.-led air strike against al Shabaab militants in Somalia on Monday killed three members of the al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency group, the U.S. military said in a statement on Wednesday.
