Syrian Kurds cut IS supply line near Iraq; fears for Christians mount
BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) – Kurdish militia pressed an offensive against Islamic State in northeast Syria on Wednesday, cutting one of its supply lines from Iraq, as fears mounted for dozens of Christians abducted by the hardline group.
Ukraine heaps on economic pressure as central bank confuses, truce takes hold
KIEV/MAKIYVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine came under greater economic pressure after unexpectedly banning most currency trading and then abruptly reversing course, wreaking havoc on the hryvnia, just as a truce in the east took hold on Wednesday with …
Pakistani man denies al Qaeda ties at U.S. terror trial
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Pakistani-born man accused by U.S. authorities of participating in an al Qaeda plot to attack targets in Europe and the United States took the stand in his defense Wednesday, denying any affiliation with the militant group.
Exclusive: Sanctioned North Korea shipping firm still active, renamed ships – U.N. panel
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.N.-blacklisted North Korean shipping company has renamed most of its vessels in a bid to disguise their origin and continues its illicit shipments in violation of United Nations sanctions, according to a U.N. experts repo…
Iran stages war games, boats hit mock-up U.S. ship
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards staged war games in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, including a gunboat attack on a model U.S. warship, in Tehran’s latest display of military muscle in a Gulf shipping channel vital to world oil …
Uruguay’s Mujica: Guantanamo turned inmates ‘halfway into vegetables’
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – Six former Guantanamo Bay prisoners sent to Uruguay as part of a push by President Barack Obama to close the U.S. military’s prison camp in Cuba were “turned halfway into vegetables” during their detention, outgoing President Jos…
Togo president to run as candidate in April election
LOME (Reuters) – Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe has accepted his party’s nomination as candidate for elections in April, a member of his party said on Wednesday, quoting the president.
Australian PM strikes conciliatory note over Indonesia executions
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott struck a conciliatory tone on Thursday after speaking with Indonesian President Joko Widodo about the looming execution of two convicted Australian drug traffickers.
Cuba says fast track to restoring ties ‘depends on U.S.’
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Cuba would agree to restore diplomatic relations with the United States in time for the April Summit of the Americas if Washington quickly and convincingly removes the Caribbean country from a list of state sponsors of ter…
U.S. Treasury presses Qatar on terror finance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew met with the emir of Qatar and emphasized the importance of fighting “terror financing,” amid suspicions that money from one of the key U.S. Middle East allies had gone to violent extremists in th…
