Colombia’s Santos sees prospect of ceasefire with FARC starting January 1
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday he is confident he will be in a position to call a ceasefire with Marxist FARC rebels starting New Year’s Day if the fifth and final agenda point at peace talks is completed.
Rwanda MPs debate constitutional change for president’s third term
KIGALI (Reuters) – Rwanda’s lower house of parliament debated on Wednesday a constitutional change that would allow President Paul Kagame to run for a third term, a move opposed by the United States and other donors.
Iraq to adjust military spending, hire 10,000 new forces: minister
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A financial squeeze is forcing Iraq to put major weapons deals on hold, but the country will hire 10,000 additional paramilitary forces seen as critical in the fight against Islamic State, its finance minister said on Wednesday.
Ousting of Rome mayor shows Italy’s resistance to change
ROME (Reuters) – The resignation of Rome’s mayor over allegations he fiddled his dining expenses may at first sight suggest Italy is finally getting tough on corruption. In reality, his troubles show just how resistant to change the country is.
U.S. weighs special forces in Syria, helicopters in Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is considering sending a small number of special operations forces to Syria and attack helicopters to Iraq as it weighs options to build momentum in the battle against Islamic State, U.S. officials said on Tuesd…
No physical signs Russian soldier who died in Syria hanged himself: father
GRECHANAYA BALKA, Russia (Reuters) – The family of the first Russian soldier confirmed dead in Syria buried their son in a village graveyard on Wednesday, with his father saying there were no signs on the body to support the official account he had han…
Cambodia’s PM condemns attacks on lawmakers, rails at opposition
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia’s prime minister on Wednesday condemned a violent assault on two opposition parliamentarians as “cheap” and unforgivable and took aim at political rivals for stirring tensions with street protests that hurt the country’s…
Nigerian army says it rescues more than 300 Boko Haram abductees
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s armed forces on Wednesday said it had rescued 338 people held captive by Boko Haram and raided a number of the Islamist militant group’s camps on the edge of its stronghold in the northeast’s Sambisa forest.
Russia says Central Asia at risk of spillover from Islamic State in Afghanistan
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Militants in Afghanistan who have switched sides to Islamic State pose a growing risk to Central Asia, Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency on Wednesday.
Turkish prosecutor says strong evidence Islamic State cell behind bombings
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish prosecutors cited strong evidence on Wednesday that an Islamic State (IS) cell in the southeastern city of Gaziantep carried out a spate of bombings culminating in a double suicide attack that killed more than 100 people in…
