Cuban opposition falls at first hurdle as Castro handover looms
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban opposition leaders said they failed to get anyone nominated as a candidate for municipal elections, falling at the first hurdle as the Communist-run island embarks on a political cycle that will end 60 years of Castro brothers’…
Zimbabwe’s ruling party expels former vice president Mnangagwa
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sacked by President Robert Mugabe this week, has been expelled from the ruling Zanu-PF, a party spokesman said on Wednesday.
Sunni Iraq VP supports PM Abadi for second term with conditions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iraq’s top Sunni Muslim politician said on Wednesday he would back Shi’ite Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi for a new term as long as conditions such as bringing Shi’ite militias under state control and balancing relations wi…
British aid minister resigns over undisclosed meetings in Israel
LONDON (Reuters) – British aid minister Priti Patel resigned on Wednesday, saying her actions had fallen “below the high standards that are expected” of her position when she failed to disclose meetings with Israeli officials during a holiday.
NATO agrees new military commands to protect Europe
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies backed plans on Wednesday for two new military headquarters to help protect Europe in the event of a conflict with Russia, laying the ground for the U.S.-led alliance’s biggest expansion in decades.
China’s Xi fetes Trump on first day of Beijing trip
BEIJING (Reuters) – With lavish pageantry and an uncharacteristic personal flourish, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday rolled out a red carpet welcome for U.S President Donald Trump at the Forbidden City, the ancient home of China’s emperors.
Tornado replacement must be fifth generation: German air force chief
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German military needs a “fifth-generation” replacement for its Tornado fighter jets that is hard to detect on enemy radars and can strike targets from a great distance, the chief of staff of the air force said on Wednesday.
Maradona backs Venezuela’s Maduro, signs for World Cup coverage
CARACAS (Reuters) – Former Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona has voiced fervent support for Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro and signed up to work for Caracas-based Telesur TV during next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Catalan strike severs road links as secessionist leader regroups
BARCELONA/MADRID (Reuters) – A general strike called by pro-independence campaigners in Catalonia closed shops and severed transport links on Wednesday, as the region’s deposed leader lost political momentum after failing to seal an electoral pact with…
Saudi coalition lets Yemen’s Aden port reopen
ADEN (Reuters) – The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi movement in Yemen has allowed work to resume at the southern port of Aden, two days after ordering a nationwide stoppage, an official there said on Wednesday.
