Islamic State eyeing oil targets beyond Syria stronghold: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Islamic State is looking at potentially vulnerable oil assets in Libya and elsewhere outside its Syria stronghold, where the militant group controls about roughly 80 percent of the oil and gas fields, a senior U.S. official said …
Iran’s October missile test violated U.N. ban: expert panel
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran violated a U.N. Security Council resolution in October by test firing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, a team of sanctions monitors said, leading to calls in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for more sancti…
EU expected to agree on extending Russian sanctions on Friday
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is set to agree a six-month extension of its economic sanctions on Russia on Friday, once Italy’s prime minister has discussed the issue with his fellow leaders at a summit in Brussels, diplomats said on Tuesday….
South Africa’s ANC rallies round Zuma; Moody’s cuts outlook
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling ANC rallied round President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, rejecting calls for him to stand down after he rocked financial markets last week by appointing an unknown backbencher as finance minister.
Ukraine’s leaders say dismissing PM not on the agenda
KIEV (Reuters) – The Ukrainian parliament should not consider dismissing Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, the country’s president, parliament’s speaker and Yatseniuk said in joint statement on Tuesday, in which they called on lawmakers to work together…
United Nations formally kicks off race for next secretary-general
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations formally kicked off the race for the next secretary-general on Tuesday and the world body’s 193 members were encouraged to consider putting forward a woman for the top job that has been held by a man for th…
Russia, U.S. clear way for Syria meeting after Kerry Moscow talks
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia and the United States see enough common ground on Syria for world powers to meet on the troubled country’s peace process in New York on Friday, but views on the future of President Bashar-al Assad still diverge.
Afghan security worsens, casualties spike in 2015: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s overall security deteriorated in the second half of this year, with Taliban militants staging more attacks and inflicting far more casualties on Afghan forces, the Pentagon said in a grim report to the U.S. Congress…
Exclusive: U.S. to charge Venezuela’s National Guard chief with drug trafficking
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors are preparing to unveil drug trafficking charges against the head of Venezuela’s National Guard, according to people familiar with the case, as the United States investigates the suspected involvement of senior V…
Vatican must step up prosecutions of financial crimes: watchdog
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican should be much more aggressive in dealing with people suspected of financial crimes like money laundering and step up prosecutions and indictments, a European finance watchdog agency said on Tuesday.
