On eve of trip, Pope orders takeover of Catholic group in Peru
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican takeover of an elite Catholic society in Peru whose founder is accused of sexually and physically abusing children and former members of the group.
Mekong countries pledge more cooperation as demands on river grow
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Countries along the Mekong River said on Wednesday they would reinforce security, trade and environmental cooperation in the face of concerns over competing demands on its waters, particularly given multiple dams being built by C…
EU to meet Iran to back nuclear deal in message to Trump
BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) – European powers will reaffirm on Thursday their support for the Iran nuclear deal that Donald Trump has rejected, EU diplomats said, on the eve of a deadline for the U.S. president to decide whether to reimpose oil sanctions …
Russian man rams armored personnel carrier into shop, steals wine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A man rammed an armored personnel carrier into a shop window before climbing through the rubble to steal a bottle of wine in a town in northern Russia on Wednesday morning, according to local media and video posted on social media.
Trump says open to talks with North Korea: Seoul statement
SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump told his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on Wednesday he is open to talking with North Korea, the South’s presidential office said after the two leaders spoke by telephone.
Soldiers loot arms, burn military base in Ivory Coast’s second largest city
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Soldiers in Ivory Coast’s second largest city looted weapons from the base of a rival elite military unit before setting it on fire during an overnight clash, leaders of the faction that carried out the raid said on Wednesday.
Poland hopes for de-escalation of tensions with EU
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland hopes to be able to smooth tensions with the European Union by further dialogue, newly-appointed Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday, a day after meeting European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in Brusse…
Man suspected of funneling Libyan cash to Sarkozy granted bail by UK court
LONDON (Reuters) – A French businessman suspected by investigators of funneling money from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance Nicolas Sarkozy’s successful 2007 presidential campaign was granted bail when he appeared at a London court on We…
U.N. says Syrian forces killed 85 civilians in besieged zone
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and their allies have killed at least 85 civilians since Dec. 31 in stepped-up attacks against the besieged rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, the U.N. human rights chief said on Wednesday.
Turkey urges Russia, Iran to stop Syrian army offensive in Idlib
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey called on Russia and Iran on Wednesday to pressure Syrian authorities to halt a military offensive in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, which Damascus launched despite an international deal to reduce hostilities there.
