Iraq briefed on U.S. special forces plan, Kerry says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Iraqi government is fully briefed on U.S. plans to deploy American special forces to Iraq and the two governments will consult closely on where they will go and what they will do, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wedn…
Police officer, six others killed in latest Burundi violence
NAIROBI (Reuters) – At least seven people including a police officer were killed overnight in separate incidents in Burundi’s capital and the surrounding area, police, witnesses and an official said on Wednesday.
Russia unlikely to meet Ukraine peace deal deadline, NATO says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO’s top commander warned on Wednesday there was little chance that Russia would meet a year-end deadline for a peace deal in eastern Ukraine, saying the calmer situation there did not mean the end of the conflict was near.
U.N. food agency faces $40 million Myanmar funding shortfall to mid-2016
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – More than 600,000 people in Myanmar need food assistance due to natural disasters, violence and conflict, the U.N. World Food Programme said on Wednesday, announcing a $40 million funding shortfall for food aid th…
Spanish court revokes Catalan independence motion
MADRID (Reuters) – The Spanish Constitutional Court on Wednesday said it has revoked Catalonia’s motion in Parliament to begin the process to separate from the rest of Spain.
Slovakia files lawsuit against EU quotas to redistribute migrants
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Slovakia filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice on Wednesday against a European Union decision to redistribute 120,000 asylum seekers among member countries, the first legal challenge to a measure that has divided the b…
UAE troops dig in for a long war in Yemen
ADEN (Reuters) – Soldiers from the United Arab Emirates, at the head of a Gulf Arab coalition fighting Iran-allied Houthi forces in Yemen, are preparing for a long, tough ground war from their base in the southern port of Aden.
Central African leader says U.N. forces need news powers to guard vote
PARIS (Reuters) – U.N. peacekeepers in Central African Republic need stronger powers to take on armed groups trying to disrupt the build-up to presidential elections, the country’s interim prime minister Mahamat Kamoun said.
Record rains flood south Indian state; more to come
CHENNAI, India (Reuters) – The heaviest rainfall in over a century caused massive flooding across the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, driving thousands from their homes, shutting auto factories and paralyzing the airport in the state capital Chennai.
U.S. coalition targets Islamic State with 17 strikes: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies staged 17 air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement released on Wednesday.
