Indonesian president’s latest problem: a loose cannon in the cabinet
JAKARTA (Reuters) – As Indonesian President Joko Widodo was preparing on Wednesday to present a grand package of measures aimed at restoring investors’ faith in the competence of his government, one of his ministers stepped in and spoilt it all.
Norway says won’t pay ransom for man held hostage by IS
OSLO (Reuters) – A Norwegian man has been held hostage in Syria since January and is now believed to be in the hands of Islamic State, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Wednesday, adding she would not yield to the group’s demand for a ransom payment….
Exclusive: Russia building major military base near Ukrainian border
SOLOTI, Russia (Reuters) – Russia has started to build a huge military base housing ammunition depots and barracks for several thousand soldiers near the Ukrainian border, a project that suggests the Kremlin is digging in for a prolonged stand-off with…
Greek political leaders clash over bailout in televised debate
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s political heavyweights went head-to-head for the first time on Wednesday in campaigning for national elections, trading accusations over the economic crisis as they sought to win over undecided voters.
Lula throws weight behind Scioli’s bid for Argentina presidency
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Brazil’s popular but scandal-weary former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva endorsed Argentina’s ruling party presidential candidate on Wednesday, shoring up Daniel Scioli’s credentials with the political left a month and a half…
Radical killed by Britain in Syria was latest from Cardiff district
CARDIFF (Reuters) – For the Muslim community in Reyaad Khan’s neighborhood of Cardiff in Wales, this week’s news he had been killed by Britain in a drone strike in Syria was just the latest in a series of shocks about radicals in their midst.
Malema ejected from South Africa’s parliament for calling deputy president ‘murderer’
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Julius Malema, leader of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, was thrown out of the South African parliament on Wednesday after he called Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a “murderer”.
UN says rights violations escalating in Congo ahead of elections
KINSHASA (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Wednesday human rights violations by authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo are escalating ahead of a round of elections during which President Joseph Kabila is set to step down.
House might cancel vote on Iran disapproval bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives are weighing the possibility of abandoning a disapproval resolution for the Iran nuclear deal, as doubts grow that the legislation has enough votes to even clear a procedu…
U.S., allies launch 17 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition targeted Islamic State with 17 air strikes in Syria and Iraq on Tuesday, including one that destroyed the militant group’s operating base near Ramadi that was a key supply hub, according to the U.S. militar…
