Britain drafting U.N. resolution to set up Colombia mission: envoys
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Britain has circulated to key members of the United Nations Security Council a draft resolution to launch planning for a U.N. mission to oversee disarmament should Colombia’s government and leftist rebels reach a final peace …
Militants storm Pakistan university, kill at least 20
CHARSADDA, Pakistan/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Armed militants stormed a university in volatile northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens a little more than a year after the massacre of 134 students at a school in th…
U.S. senator was told of link between Iran sanctions, prisoners
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When implementation of the Iran nuclear pact was looming and a secret prisoner swap deal in the works, Obama administration officials called the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in early January to ask him to pu…
Merkel says Austrian cap on refugees ‘not helpful’ for European solution
KREUTH, Germany (Reuters) – Germany said on Wednesday Austria’s decision to cap the number of refugees it will let in and tighten border controls was “not helpful” to German efforts to negotiate a European Union-wide solution to the migrant crisis and …
France acts to secure road above Calais refugee ‘jungle’
CALAIS, France (Reuters) – French bulldozers have begun to clear a 100-metre (110-yard) strip next to a road that passes above a migrant camp in Calais, as local authorities attempt to secure a busy traffic route between France and Britain.
Reform uncertainty in Vietnam after PM left off leadership nominations
HANOI (Reuters) – As Vietnam’s Communist Party opens its five-yearly Congress on Thursday, the country’s progressive prime minister is headed for the political wilderness, an unexpected development that clouds the outlook for reform of the fast-growing…
Brazil President called as witness in bribery investigation
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A federal judge in Brazil authorized President Dilma Rousseff to appear as a witness in an investigation into the use of bribes to influence the passage of legislation, a court spokesman said on Wednesday.
Syria talks may not start on Jan. 25, ‘pressure, momentum’ needed: U.N. envoy
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria said on Wednesday that peace talks might not start as planned in Geneva on Jan. 25th but that major powers must maintain diplomatic pressure on the warring sides to come to the table.
Ecuador says Assange will answer Sweden’s questions in days
QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador, whose U.K. embassy provides refuge to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, will have him answer questions from Swedish authorities about allegations of assault and rape against two women, President Rafael Correa said on Wednesda…
Ukraine plans new diplomatic push to recover Crimea: Finance Minister
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Ukraine plans soon to launch a fresh diplomatic initiative to recover the Crimean peninsula from Russia which annexed it in 2014, Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko told Reuters on Wednesday.
