U.S. commander in Afghanistan denies child sex abuse was tolerated
KABUL (Reuters) – The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan on Tuesday denied there was ever a policy for forces to ignore Afghan officials’ sexual abuse of minors, days after a newspaper reported troops were told to look the other way to preserve relation…
Abbas cites risk of new Palestinian uprising if Aqsa violence continues
PARIS (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Tuesday that there was a risk of a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising, erupting if violence at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem did not ease and peace talks with Israel did not resume.
South Africa’s Zuma starts probe on police chief over ‘Marikana massacre’
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma has launched an investigation into the police chief’s role in the 2012 killing of 34 miners by officers during a strike over pay, his office said on Tuesday.
Czech court says three men can be extradited to U.S. on terrorism charges
PRAGUE (Reuters) – A Czech court approved the extradition of three foreigners to the United States, where they are accused of trying to sell arms and drugs with the aim of harming U.S. interests, the court spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Gulf Arabs oppose Russia role in Syria, still bent on Assad’s ouster
DUBAI (Reuters) – Russia’s military intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad has dismayed Gulf Arab enemies of the Syrian leader who say it will prolong the war and keep Syria firmly in the orbit of their arch regional rival Iran.
Ukraine presses NATO chief for defensive weapons
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine pressed NATO on Tuesday for Western weaponry to help defend itself against pro-Russian separatists but the head of the alliance resisted for fear of threatening a fragile ceasefire with Russian-backed rebels.
Yemen’s Hadi in Aden after nearly six months in exile: airport sources
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi landed in Aden on Tuesday, airport sources said, the first time he had been in the southern port city since he left for Saudi Arabia as Houthi fighters closed in on it in March.
Agree on referendum or face unilateral split: Catalonia to Spain
BARCELONA (Reuters) – The head of Catalonia’s regional government says a unilateral split from Spain is unstoppable unless the central government agrees to call a binding referendum on independence.
China’s president to meet tech titans, visit Boeing in start to U.S. visit
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet U.S. tech titans and tour Boeing Co’s biggest factory and Microsoft Corp’s sprawling campus near Seattle this week as he kicks off a U.S. visit that also includes a black-tie state dinner at th…
Exclusive: ‘Putin’s banker’ Pugachev files $12 billion claim against Russia
PARIS (Reuters) – Sergei Pugachev, a tycoon once dubbed “Putin’s banker” because of his influence in the Kremlin, has filed a $12 billion claim against Russia after his business empire was carved up when he fell out of favour with President Vladimir Pu…
