Mind your manners, Venezuela tells U.S. official Jacobson
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s top diplomat called a senior U.S. official “petulant” and ill-mannered on Wednesday in response to her contention that sanctions were intended to change the government, not topple it.
U.N. peacekeepers barred seven Congolese officers over rights records
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo barred seven Congolese army and police officers from receiving support after ruling there was a “real risk” they could commit human rights abuses, ac…
IMF aims for ‘immediate’ stabilization with latest Ukraine bailout deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund has agreed to pump $10 billion into Ukraine’s troubled economy over the next year, providing swift assistance for the country’s struggling finances as part of a larger four-year bailout.
France wins battle of Waterloo, as coin is tossed
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Two hundred years after Napoleon’s ambitions to rule Europe died at Waterloo, France won a small battle on Wednesday to prevent the minting of a euro coin commemorating an event that shaped today’s continent.
Cuban dissident leader survives challenge, says group stronger
HAVANA (Reuters) – The leader of Cuba’s Ladies in White declared the prominent dissident group stronger on Wednesday after she survived a leadership challenge from disgruntled followers who accused her of abusing her authority.
Erdogan underlines rates view to Turkish central bank chief
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Nervous Turkish markets hoped President Tayyip Erdogan might make peace with the central bank governor on Wednesday, but the two seem likely at best to have agreed to disagree on interest rate policy.
Rights group blames Syria government forces for majority of doctor deaths
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S.-based Physicians for Human Rights on Wednesday blamed Syrian government forces for 88 percent of its recorded attacks on hospitals and almost all recorded killings of medical workers during the country’s four-year confli…
Islamic State ransacks Assyrian capital as Iraq appeals for help
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants have desecrated another ancient Iraqi capital, the government said on Wednesday, razing parts of the 2,700-year-old city of Khorsabad famed for its colossal statues of human-headed winged bulls.
Head of Chile right-wing party resigns amid campaign finance scandal
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – The head of Chile’s right-wing UDI party, a bastion of support for late dictator Augusto Pinochet, resigned on Wednesday, becoming the first political casualty of a campaign finance scandal that has left Chileans feeling betrayed.
Petrobras scandal pushes Rousseff coalition to the brink
BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff can no longer count on a key ally in her ruling coalition, complicating efforts to stave off what could be the roughest patch for Brazil’s economy in a quarter-century.
