Ukraine rebuilds navy, with U.S. help, to counter Russian build-up in Crimea
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine is refitting and expanding its naval fleet, including repairing its flagship, the frigate “Hetman Sahaydachnyy”, to counter a Russian military build-up in the annexed territory of Crimea, the commander of the Ukrainian navy say…
German court weighs arguments to ban poem mocking Erdogan
HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) – A German court weighed up the limits of artistic freedom on Wednesday in considering whether to ban a satirical poem that mocked Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and caused a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Berlin.
Turkey says Iraqi border deployment a precaution, urges calm from Baghdad
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s deputy prime minister said on Wednesday a military build-up on the border with Iraq was a precaution, not a threat, and urged the government in Baghdad to lower tensions after it warned Turkey would pay for any incursion.
Best outcome of Brexit talks is to avert it: German experts
BERLIN (Reuters) – The best outcome of Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union would be to keep the country in the bloc, a committee of academic advisers to the German government said in a report on Wednesday.
France moves Calais child migrants as row with Britain simmers
CALAIS, France (Reuters) – France moved hundreds of child migrants from the site of a demolished camp to reception centers across the country on Wednesday, as a feud with Britain over who takes care of the youths dragged on.
German deputy leader, in China, urges release of human rights lawyers
CHENGDU, China (Reuters) – Germany’s outspoken economy minister, visiting China, on Wednesday met activists who have criticized the Beijing government and urged it to free jailed human rights lawyers.
European watchdog to observe Uzbekistan election
TASHKENT (Reuters) – The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a democracy and human rights watchdog, set up a its first full observation mission in Uzbekistan on Wednesday for the Dec. 4 presidential election.
Iceland’s president asks Independence Party to form new government
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Iceland’s president on Wednesday asked the leader of the center-right Independence Party to form a new government after the party emerged on top in a general election on Saturday.
U.N. peacekeepers failed to respond to South Sudan hotel attack: inquiry
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – United Nations peacekeepers failed to respond to an attack on civilians by South Sudanese government troops at the Hotel Terrain in the capital Juba in July, less than a mile from a U.N. compound, a U.N. inquiry found on Tues…
Haunted by asylum center fire, divided Austrian town prepares to vote
ALTENFELDEN, Austria (Reuters) – The men sip beers in Altenfelden’s Barolo bar, remembering the night this summer when attackers set fire to the town’s refugee center before a single migrant had moved in.
