Exclusive: U.S. bets on Brazil, extends new invitation to Rousseff
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – The Obama administration has again invited Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff for a state visit to Washington, a diplomatic breakthrough that both sides hope will lead over time to greater trade between the two biggest economies in…
U.S., Lebanon discuss efforts to defeat Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – White House counter terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco met with Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk on Tuesday to discuss security concerns in the region and ongoing efforts to defeat the Islamic State, the White House said in …
Russian foreign minister praises new U.S.-Cuba relations
HAVANA (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations on Tuesday during a six-hour stop in Havana, his first visit here since the United States and Cuba agreed to restore diplomatic ties.
Hadi forces check Houthi push towards Yemen’s Aden
ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi drove Houthi fighters from two towns they had seized hours earlier on Tuesday, residents said, apparently checking an advance by the Shi’ite fighters towards his refuge in …
Jordan signs $10 billion nuclear power plant deal with Russia
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan signed an agreement with Russia on Tuesday worth $10 billion that sets the legal basis for building the kingdom’s first nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatt.
France tells U.N. ‘insufficient’ progress in Iran nuclear talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – France warned on Tuesday that “insufficient” progress has been made toward a nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers with specific disparities over research and development and the issue of sanctions.
U.S. removes dead Cubans, sunken ships from sanctions list
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States removed 45 companies and individuals from a Cuba sanctions blacklist on Tuesday, most of them dead people, defunct companies or sunken ships.
Canada says it will bomb Islamic State ‘safe havens’ in Syria
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada will expand its military mission against Islamic State by launching air strikes against the militants’ safe havens in Syria as well as Iraq, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Tuesday.
Obama slows withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Tuesday granted Afghan requests to slow the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and said he would maintain a force of 9,800 through the end of 2015 while sticking to a 2017 exit plan.
U.N. ramps up threat to sanction South Sudan’s senior leaders
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday threatened sanctions against “senior individuals” in South Sudan for actions or policies that jeopardize security and stability after the war-torn country’s leaders failed to agr…
