UK PM May’s Brexit plan suffers hitch in parliament
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s upper parliamentary house dealt a defeat to Theresa May’s government on Wednesday, voting for a change to her Brexit plan that says she can only trigger divorce talks if she promises to protect EU citizens’ rights.
U.S. general wants Russia to open up major exercise to observers
VILNIUS (Reuters) – The U.S. Army’s top European commander on Wednesday called on Russia to open its major military exercise later this year to observers to assuage the anxieties of its neighbors.
Mass killer Breivik loses human rights case against Norway
OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik lost a human rights case on Wednesday when an appeals court overturned a lower court finding that his near-isolation in a three-room cell was inhuman.
Ex-CIA spy held over kidnap avoids extradition from Portugal, will be freed
LISBON (Reuters) – A former CIA officer convicted for involvement in the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Italy won a last-minute reprieve from deportation from Portugal on Wednesday and will be released, her lawyer said.
U.S. seeks end to U.N. rights council’s ‘obsession’ with Israel
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reviewing its participation in the U.N. Human Rights Council, seeking reform of its agenda and an end to its “obsession with Israel”, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.
Kremlin says patiently waiting for U.S. policy action on Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin is patiently waiting for U.S. policy action on Russia so that it can understand what the future holds for U.S-Russia relations, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
Wife of French presidential candidate Fillon held for questioning -report
PARIS (Reuters) – Penelope Fillon, the wife of presidential candidate Francois Fillon, was being held for questioning in connection with allegations she did little work for payments she received as his assistant, news web site Mediapart reported on Wed…
Three compete to run Hong Kong, balancing Beijing masters and calls for democracy
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Two former officials and a retired judge on Wednesday won the right to compete to become the next leader of Hong Kong, a job that requires balancing the demands of Communist Party rulers in Beijing and growing calls for democracy …
Taliban claim attacks in Afghan capital, at least 15 dead
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan Taliban militants said they attacked police, military and intelligence targets in Kabul on Wednesday, as security officials confirmed attacks in two areas of the city that killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens.
In Tallin, Gabriel expresses doubts on NATO defense spending target
TALLIN (Reuters) – German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters in Estonia on Wednesday that NATO had not agreed on every nation in the alliance having to meet a rigid target of spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense.
