EU says U.S. policy change helps its own talks with Cuba
HAVANA (Reuters) – The sudden U.S. engagement with Cuba has helped the European Union’s own bilateral talks on improving relations with the Communist-led island, a top European diplomat said on Thursday at the conclusion of two days of negotiations in …
UK lawmakers say China eroding freedoms in Hong Kong
LONDON (Reuters) – British lawmakers banned from entering Hong Kong last year said Chinese regulations were eroding freedoms in the former British colony, and urged their government to take a harder stance against Beijing.
Ukraine military says one soldier killed in past 24 hours in east
KIEV (Reuters) – One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another wounded fighting pro-Russian separatists in the east, a military spokesman said on Thursday, as Kiev accused rebels of increasing violations of a ceasefire deal.
U.N. Security Council to vote on chlorine arms use in Syria
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on Friday on a U.S.-drafted resolution to condemn the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria and threaten to take action if such arms are used again in the conflict.
Australia backs farmers on foreign ownership gripes
CANBERRA (Reuters) – The Australian government has sided with farmers who say official data vastly underestimates foreign ownership of the nation’s farmland, as it moves to clamp down on overseas purchases of agricultural land.
Iran hints might be open to 10-year partial freeze of nuclear work
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister on Thursday suggested that a 10-year moratorium on some aspects of the country’s nuclear program might be acceptable to Tehran, though he declined to discuss the issue in detail.
Palestinian leaders say they’ll cut security coordination with Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian leaders in the West Bank said on Thursday they would halt the security coordination with Israel which is widely credited with keeping order in the territory and preventing attacks in Israel.
Libyan factions hold peace talks in Morocco
SKHIRATE, Morocco (Reuters) – Libya’s warring factions held United Nations-backed talks on Thursday in an effort to end a conflict between two rival governments that threatens to drive the country into full-blown civil war.
Blast in Syria kills top al Qaeda commander, three others
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s official Syrian wing, the Nusra Front, announced on Thursday the death of its top military commander, who insurgent sources said fell victim to a blast targeting a high-level militant meeting.
Law unto itself: Thai junta fuels doubt by churning out legislation
BANGKOK (Reuters) – It usually meets just twice a week, and many of its 220 members have little or no experience of making laws. But that hasn’t slowed down Thailand’s interim parliament, which was installed by the military junta that seized power last…
