Valls seen losing French presidential race in first round: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – Manuel Valls, who launched a bid for France’s presidential election on Monday, would not gather enough support to go through to its second round, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday.
Libyan forces clear last Islamic State holdout in Sirte
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan forces backed by U.S. air strikes finished clearing the last Islamic State holdout in Sirte on Tuesday after a near seven-month battle for the militant group’s former North African stronghold.
Yemen says U.N. roadmap to end conflict sets ‘dangerous precedent’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Yemen on Tuesday appeared to reject a U.N. plan to end its civil war, saying the roadmap would create a “dangerous international precedent” by legitimizing the rebellion against the country’s internationally recognized government…
Syrian troops enter Aleppo’s Old City, poised for war’s biggest victory
BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – Syria’s army and allies pushed into rebel-held parts of Aleppo’s Old City on Tuesday, a monitoring group said, looking closer than ever to achieving their most important victory of the five-year-old civil war by driving rebels…
Iraqi army launches fresh assault toward Mosul center
BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi army units surged toward the center of Mosul on Tuesday in an attack from the city’s southeastern edges that could give fresh impetus to the seven-week-old battle for Islamic State’s Iraqi stronghold.
Venezuela opposition says talks off until government fulfills agreements
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition said on Tuesday talks with President Nicolas Maduro’s administration were off until the leftist government keeps promises on elections and foreign aid, casting further doubt on Vatican-brokered attempts to all…
China urges U.S. to block transit by Taiwan president
BEIJING/GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – China called on U.S. officials on Tuesday not to let Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen pass through the United States en route to Guatemala next month, days after President-elect Donald Trump irked Beijing by speaking …
Setting sights on fourth term, Merkel vows tough line on migration
ESSEN, Germany (Reuters) – Angela Merkel laid out her case for a fourth term as German chancellor on Tuesday, seeking to energize her conservatives with a call to ban full-face Muslim veils and the promise of a tougher stance on immigration after a rec…
Cuba, U.S. to discuss detente in wake of Trump election
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Cuba and the United States will draw up a roadmap for deepening their detente on Wednesday in a first meeting since the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president and the death of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.
Venezuelans stage protest over political prisoners outside Vatican
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including the wife and mother of a jailed dissident leader, have begun a sit-in outside the Vatican demanding that the government free political prisoners.
