Afghan president faces new hurdles as cabinet nominees rejected
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s parliament dealt a new blow to President Ashraf Ghani’s efforts to assemble a government on Wednesday, approving just eight out of 25 cabinet nominees before its winter recess.
Sudanese rebels detain six Bulgarians: Bulgarian foreign ministry
SOFIA (Reuters) – Six Bulgarians working with the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) were detained by Sudanese rebels after their helicopter made an emergency landing in Sudan’s war-torn South Kordofan province, the Bulgarian foreign ministry said.
Bahrain’s most senior opposition leader goes on trial
MANAMA(Reuters) – Bahrain’s top opposition leader went on trial on Wednesday on charges of promoting the violent overthrow of the political system, a case that has riled his followers and inflamed unrest in the Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab state.
Russia unveils $35 billion anti-crisis plan, silent on cuts to pay for it
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia announced a $35 billion “anti-crisis” spending plan on Wednesday to bail out an economy battered by Western sanctions and falling oil prices, but gave few details of the deep cuts it said would be enacted this year to pay for …
EU executive ponders new airline data rules after Paris attacks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission is reviewing plans on sharing airline passenger data to address privacy concerns while still seeking to improve security following militant attacks in Paris.
Russia’s Lavrov says fighting ‘terrorism’ should unite Syrian opposition, Damascus
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged members of the Syrian opposition and representatives from Damascus at peace talks in Moscow on Wednesday to join forces to combat the threat of “terrorism”.
U.S. says air strikes pound Islamic State targets near Kobani, Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and partner nations launched 13 air strikes near Kobani, Syria, in the last 24 hours, the U.S. military said, as they continued their air assault to help drive the last Islamic State forces out of city.
Jordan says ready to free Iraqi militant if pilot released
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan said on Wednesday it was willing to hand over an Iraqi woman detained for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing in Amman if a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State was released.
Copenhagen copper crooks hit rail commuters
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Commuters in the Danish capital faced widespread disruptions on the train network caused by the third theft in a week of copper cables from the tracks.
France, Germany, Britain to meet Iran on nuclear issue
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – France, Germany and Britain will hold talks on Thursday with Iran in Istanbul, the European Union said, as part of efforts to end a 12-year standoff over Tehran’s atomic ambitions.
