Pope decries anti-migrant violence after neo-Nazi shooting shakes Italy
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis urged Catholics on Tuesday to reflect on the causes of violence against migrants during the approaching season of Lent, in an appeal days after a shooting attack on Africans further inflamed Italy’s election campai…
Pence heads to Olympics leaving open chance of talks with North Korea officials
TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Japan on Tuesday at the start of an Asia trip that takes him to the Winter Olympics in South Korea, saying he had no plans to talk to North Korean officials but leaving open the chance o…
Russia decides where it deploys its missiles, Kremlin says after Kaliningrad rebuke
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Tuesday it had the right to put weapons anywhere it chose on its own territory, after reports that Moscow had deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad drew criticism from its neighbors and NATO.
U.N. demands Syria ceasefire as air strikes pound rebel-held areas
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United Nations called on Tuesday for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Syria of at least a month as heavy air strikes were reported to have killed at least 40 people in rebel-held areas near Damascus and in the northwest.
U.S. and North Korea trade warnings on nuclear strikes
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United States said on Tuesday that North Korea may be only months away from being able to strike the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile, while Pyongyang said Washington was considering a pre-emptive strike agai…
Poland’s president says will sign Holocaust bill, defying critics
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s president said on Tuesday he would sign into law a bill that imposes jail terms for suggesting the country was complicit in the Holocaust, defying criticism from Israel, the United States and activists.
Iran-backed Iraqi groups urge full U.S. withdrawal, hardliners threaten attacks
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two major Iraqi Shi’ite groups backed by Iran are demanding all U.S. forces leave Iraq, opposing plans by Baghdad and Washington to keep some there for training and advisory purposes.
Porsche pummeled, corvettes crushed as Philippines’ Duterte shows he’s tough on tax-dodging
MANILA (Reuters) – Bulldozers and backhoes pounded more than two dozen seized luxury cars in the Philippines on Tuesday, including Porsches, Mercedes, Jaguars and Corvettes, in a dramatic demolition showcasing the no-nonsense leader’s crackdown on crim…
SE Asia ministers air concerns over Beijing’s activities in South China Sea
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Tuesday aired concerns over China’s activities in disputed areas of the South China Sea, noting that land reclamation continued even after talks began between their 10-member bloc and Beijing t…
Philippines signs $233 million helicopter deal with Canada to fight rebels
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines signed a deal with Canada on Tuesday to buy 16 combat utility helicopters worth $233.36 million, as the military prepared to step up operations against Islamist and communist rebels.
