U.N. agency bans lithium-ion batteries on passenger aircraft
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The U.N. aviation agency on Monday prohibited shipments of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft, following concerns by pilots and plane makers that they are a fire risk.
Australian abuse inquiry says will sit in Rome to hear Vatican treasurer
SYDNEY (Reuters) – An Australian government inquiry into child abuse has said it has found a suitable public venue in Rome where victims will be able to watch the Vatican’s Australian-born treasurer testify about his knowledge of molestation within the…
Syrian rebels see flaws in U.S.-Russian truce plan
WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United States and Russia announced plans for a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria that would take effect on Saturday but exclude groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda’s Nusra Front, a loophole Syrian rebels immedi…
Spanish political parties step up talks in race to form government
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s left-wing political parties intensified negotiations on Monday to end weeks of wrangling after an inconclusive election, though leaders had yet to make any breakthrough on forming a coalition to avoid another ballot.
NATO wants Afghan forces to do less defending, more attacking
KABUL (Reuters) – NATO advisers want Afghan soldiers to spend less time manning checkpoints and more taking the fight to Taliban militants, a key tactical shift the coalition hopes will enable local forces to quell a rising insurgency.
Lawyers for Assange ask Swedish court to overturn arrest warrant
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Lawyers for Julian Assange have asked a Swedish court to overturn an arrest warrant for the Wikileaks founder following a ruling by a U.N. panel that his stay in Ecuador’s London embassy amounts to arbitrary detention.
Italy agrees to let anti-Islamic State drones depart from Sicily
ROME (Reuters) – Italy has agreed to let armed drones take off from its soil to defend U.S.-led forces against Islamic State in North Africa, an Italian defense ministry official said on Monday.
Brazil police target Rousseff campaign chief in corruption probe
SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian police said on Monday they obtained an arrest warrant for the architect of President Dilma Rousseff’s electoral campaigns, complicating her fight to survive an investigation of her re-election in 2014 and …
Slovenian army to help police control migrant inflow on border
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – The Slovenian army will be sent to guard the border with Croatia and help police control the flow of migrants into the country under legislation passed by parliament late on Monday.
As pound plunges, UK’s Cameron defends EU deal to avert ‘Brexit’
LONDON (Reuters) – The pound posted its biggest one-day loss in almost six years on Monday on concerns of a possible British exit from the EU, adding to the pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron as he mounted a defense of his deal to keep the countr…
