Philippine troops clash with Islamist militants, 15 dead
(This story corrects the Dec. 15 story to change the president’s name in the seventh paragraph to “Aquino”)
Brazil judge drops objection to Rousseff impeachment proceedings
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A controversial secret congressional vote that stacked an impeachment committee with opponents of President Dilma Rousseff was found legitimate on Wednesday by the Supreme Court justice who suspended proceedings against her last we…
Exclusive: U.S. supplies Syrian fighters ahead of push for Islamic State town
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has delivered a fresh supply of ammunition to Syrian Arab fighters ahead of an expected stiff battle with Islamic State as they push toward the Syrian town of al-Shadadi, a key logistics hub for the group, U.S. …
U.S., Cuba agree on restoring commercial flights: AP
(Reuters) – The United States and Cuba have reached “an understanding” on restoring commercial airline flights, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed officials.
Venezuelan officials accused of taking drug pay-offs in U.S. indictment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two senior Venezuelan officials facing U.S. drug trafficking charges are accused in an indictment of taking payments from narcotics traffickers and alerting them to drug raids, according to a person with knowledge of the case.
Rouhani: U.N.’s closure of probe into Iran’s nuclear past is political victory
DUBAI (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday a U.N. watchdog’s closure of investigations into Iran’s past nuclear activities is a political victory for the country, lifting the main obstacle to implementing Tehran’s deal with world powe…
Obama administration authorizes $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration formally notified Congress on Wednesday of a $1.83 billion arms sale package for Taiwan, including two frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and other equipment, drawing an angry respo…
Brazil judge drops objection to Rousseff impeachment proceedings
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A controversial secret congressional vote that stacked an impeachment committee with opponents of President Dilma Rousseff was found legitimate on Wednesday by the Supreme Court justice who suspended proceedings against her last we…
Yemen’s truce in danger of collapse; prisoner swap blocked
ADEN (Reuters) – A ceasefire between Yemen’s Houthi group and a Saudi-led alliance was in danger of collapse on Wednesday, each side accusing the other of violating the truce, as peace talks went into a second day in Switzerland.
Dutch PM survives censure vote over deal with drug trafficker
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A motion of censure against Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte over the handling of a 15-year-old deal with a convicted drug trafficker failed narrowly in parliament on Wednesday night after almost the entire opposition backed it.
