Australia defends U.S. in latest South China Sea dispute
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia backed the United States on Thursday in its so-called freedom of navigation operation close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, a patrol China has denounced as an illegal threat to peace.
U.S., Britain, France block Russia bid to blacklist Syria rebels
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Britain, the United States, France and Ukraine blocked a Russian proposal at the United Nations to blacklist Syrian rebel groups Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham for links to Islamic State and al Qaeda militants, diplomats sa…
Earthquake shakes Guadalajara, Mexico: emergency services
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook Mexico’s second most populous city Guadalajara on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
Georgia begins U.S.-led military exercise, angering Russia
TBILISI (Reuters) – The Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain on Wednesday, drawing an angry response from former Soviet master Russia which called the war games “a provocative step”.
Suicide bomber kills eight, wounds senior army commander in Yemen attack
ADEN (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded a senior army commander in an attack on his convoy in eastern Yemen on Wednesday, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s state-run news agency reported.
Ukraine, Russia agree some security measures: Germany
BERLIN (Reuters) – Ukraine and Russia agreed on Wednesday to create demilitarized zones and implement other security measures in separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine, but they remained at odds over how to move toward local elections.
Turkey digs in heels over terrorism law, to EU’s chagrin
ANKARA/STRASBOURG (Reuters) – Turkey refused again on Wednesday to make changes to its anti-terrorism laws demanded by Brussels in a hardening of its stance that could jeopardize a major deal with the bloc covering migrants, free travel and militants.
Venezuela opposition protests for Maduro recall referendum amid clashes
CARACAS/PUNTO FIJO (Reuters) – Soldiers fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters on Wednesday as Venezuela’s opposition marched to pressure electoral authorities into allowing a recall referendum against unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro.
U.S. probes reports of fraud in obtaining aid for Syria
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The activities of several vendors obtaining humanitarian aid for Syria for the International Rescue Committee have been halted amid an investigation by the U.S. government into reports of corruption, officials sa…
Algerian army kills seven Islamist fighters east of capital: ministry
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algerian troops on Wednesday killed seven armed Islamist fighters and captured weapons during a search operation in a mountainous area of Bouira province east of the capital Algiers, the ministry of defense said.
