Exclusive: U.S. sanctions Venezuelan officials to pressure Maduro – sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on 13 senior officials of Venezuela’s government, military and state oil company PDVSA on Wednesday, U.S. officials said, seeking to ratchet up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro t…
Qatar says new terror list is “disappointing surprise”
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar said on Wednesday a decision by four Arab states to add 18 groups and individuals allegedly linked to Doha to their “terrorist” lists was “a disappointing surprise” and that it was doing all it could to fight extremism.
U.S. lawmakers reach deal for Senate Russia sanctions vote
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers reached an agreement on Wednesday paving the way for the U.S. Senate to pass a bill as soon as this week to impose new sanctions on Russia and bar President Donald Trump from easing sanctions on Mos…
Spain’s Rajoy denies slush fund in unprecedented court testimony
SAN FERNANDO DE HENARES, Spain (Reuters) – Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday denied any knowledge of an illegal financing scheme within his conservative People’s Party (PP) as he became the first sitting prime minister in Spain to give evidence in a trial, pr…
Booby-traps plague north Iraq as Islamic State targets returning civilians
SHEIKH AMIR, Iraq (Reuters) – As people return home to Mosul and other areas of northern Iraq freed from Islamic State, homemade bombs and explosives laid on an industrial scale by the insurgents are claiming hundreds of victims and hampering efforts t…
EU executive to start legal action against Poland over judiciary reform
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Wednesday it would launch legal action against Poland over an overhaul of its judiciary that it says undermines the independence of judges and breaks EU rules, both accusations denied by Warsaw.
Ukraine says UK court suspends judgment until Kiev appeal of $3 billion Russia bond ruling
KIEV (Reuters) – A London court has agreed to a request from Ukraine to suspend judgment in a $3 billion Eurobond case brought by Russia until Kiev’s appeal against the verdict is concluded, the Ukrainian finance ministry said on Wednesday.
Russia says its Baltic Sea war games with Chinese Navy not a threat
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said late on Tuesday that war games it is conducting with the Chinese Navy in the Baltic Sea, which has become a zone of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West, do not pose a threat to anyone.
Spain’s Rajoy denies slush fund in unprecedented court testimony
SAN FERNANDO DE HENARES, Spain (Reuters) – Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday denied any knowledge of an illegal financing scheme within his conservative People’s Party (PP) as he became the first sitting prime minister in Spain to give evidence in a trial.
Libya asks Italy to help fight human trafficking in Libyan waters: PM Gentiloni
ROME (Reuters) – Libya’s Tripoli-based government has asked Italy to provide naval support in fighting human trafficking in Libyan territorial waters, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday.
