U.S., Cuba talks on opening embassies head into second day
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Talks between the United States and Cuba will go into a second day on Friday as the sides try to reach agreement on reopening embassies shut for more than half a century, the crucial next step in their historic detente.
Despite Obama endorsement, U.S. concerns grow over Iraqi premier
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration is publicly voicing confidence in Iraq’s prime minister in the fight against surging Islamic State militants, but privately some U.S. officials question whether he is too weak to bridge the sectarian divide.
EU defies Russian ‘bully’ but disappoints ex-Soviets
RIGA (Reuters) – European Union leaders met six ex-Soviet neighbors on Thursday in Riga, rejecting Russian “bullying” in the 18 months since their last summit in a once Kremlin-ruled EU capital sparked conflict in Ukraine.
Obama boosts support, elevates status for ally Tunisia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Thursday pledged to elevate Tunisia as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, a gesture that recognizes the country’s democratic progress after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
Bugged phones and double barbed wire: far fewer North Koreans defect
SEOUL (Reuters) – It’s much more dangerous, and twice as expensive, to defect from North Korea since Kim Jong Un took power in Pyongyang three and a half years ago, refugees and experts say, and far fewer people are escaping from the repressive and imp…
U.S. admits two children killed in Islamic State campaign
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two children were likely killed by a U.S. air strike in Syria in November, the U.S. military said on Thursday, the first time the Pentagon has acknowledged civilian casualties since it began an air campaign against Islamic State …
Ireland looks set to back gay marriage in landmark referendum
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland votes on Friday on whether to allow gay marriage in a referendum that could make the once deeply Catholic country the first in the world to adopt the policy by popular vote.
Air strikes kill 15 suspected militants in northwest Pakistan
PARACHINAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Air strikes killed at least 15 suspected militants in Pakistan’s northwestern Shawal Valley on Thursday, intelligence officials said, a week after security forces moved toward Taliban strongholds there.
Italy passes law to tackle rampant corruption
ROME (Reuters) – Italy made a fresh attempt at tackling rampant corruption on Thursday when the Chamber of Deputies approved a strongly contested law stiffening penalties for various types of graft and balance sheet fraud.
Saudi shells hit Yemen aid office, killing five refugees: local official
CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi shells hit an international aid office in Yemen on Thursday killing five Ethiopian refugees, a local official said, while violence across the country put United Nations-led peace talks in doubt.
