Britain says Russia trying to carve out mini-state for Assad in Syria
ROME (Reuters) – Britain said on Tuesday Russia could be trying to carve out an Alawite mini-state in Syria for its ally President Bashar al-Assad by bombing his opponents instead of fighting Islamic State militants.
Iraqi Kurdish leader calls for non-binding independence referendum
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region should hold a non-binding referendum on independence, its president said on Tuesday, despite the numerous crises it is facing.
Canada’s Syrian refugee plan draws U.S. Senate panel scrutiny
WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada is proceeding with plans to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees, but the country’s background-vetting program is under scrutiny by a U.S. congressional panel, with a hearing set for Wednesday, amid lawmaker concerns abou…
Rouhani invites U.S. firms to invest in changing Iranian economy
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has no problem with U.S. companies investing in its economy and creating joint ventures, President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, and he called for foreign investment and diversification away from oil.
Syrian army threatens to encircle Aleppo as talks falter
BEIRUT/AMMAN/GENEVA (Reuters) – A Syrian military offensive backed by heavy Russian air strikes threatened to cut critical rebel supply lines into the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, while the warring sides said peace talks had not started despite …
Spain’s king picks socialist chief to try to form government
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s King Felipe has nominated socialist chief Pedro Sanchez to lead talks with political parties to form a government and seek the confidence of parliament, the speaker of the lower house Patxi Lopez announced on Tuesday.
Security officials, protesters clash during Pakistan strike
KARACHI (Reuters) – Pakistani security personnel on Tuesday clashed with marchers protesting government plans to privatize the ailing national airline, a skirmish that a hospital official said killed at least two protesters and injured eight.
Venezuela ex-ministers seek probe into $300 billion in lost oil revenue
CARACAS (Reuters) – Two former cabinet ministers under late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are seeking an investigation to trace the fate of some $300 billion allegedly embezzled during the past decade through a complex currency control system.
Two injured as explosion forces plane to turn back in Somalia
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Two passengers were injured in an explosion that blew a hole in the fuselage of a commercial plane taking off from the Mogadishu on Tuesday, an airline representative said.
ISIS pushed back in Iraq, Syria, but a threat in Libya: Kerry
ROME (Reuters) – An international coalition is pushing back Islamic State militants in their Syrian and Iraqi strongholds, but the group is threatening Libya and could seize the nation’s oil wealth, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.
