Keep up reforms for entry talks, EU tells Albania
TIRANA (Reuters) – Albania’s willingness to push ahead with reforms will determine its future steps to gain entry to the EU, the bloc’s Enlargement Commissioner said on Tuesday.
Venezuelan leader’s popularity inches up to 25 percent: poll
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s popularity inched up to 25 percent in March, according to leading local pollster Datanalisis, after the United States declared Venezuela a security threat and ordered sanctions against seven off…
Lebanese army says captures militant accused of beheading soldier
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s army said on Tuesday that it had captured two militants, one of whom beheaded a Lebanese soldier who was held by hardline Islamist gunmen along with around two dozen servicemen still in captivity.
U.N. proposes ‘presidential council’ to Libyan rival factions
BENGHAZI/RABAT (Reuters) – The United Nations tried on Tuesday to persuade Libyan rival factions to form a unity government by appointing a “presidential council” to try to resolve conflict in the oil-producing country.
South Sudan parliament extends president’s term by 3 years
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s parliament voted on Tuesday to extend President Salva Kiir’s term in office by three years, after elections due to be held in June were called off and negotiations to end more than a year of internal conflict broke up wit…
Pakistani minister: Officials in several ministries ran racket that freed prisoners
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Officials in several government ministries in Pakistan ran a crime racket that helped to free 15 prisoners convicted of murder and drug offences, Pakistan’s interior minister said Tuesday.
Russia fails in bid to stop U.N. staff benefits for all gay couples
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia failed on Tuesday in a bid to stop the United Nations extending staff benefits to all same-sex couples after a U.N. General Assembly budget committee voted 80 to 43 against the proposal.
Islamic State recruits 400 children since January: Syria monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State has recruited at least 400 children in Syria in the past three months and given these so-called “Cubs of the Caliphate” military training and hardline indoctrination, a monitoring group said on Tuesday.
U.S. says would review any Iraqi request for help in Tikrit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States would review any Iraqi request for assistance with its offensive to retake the city of Tikrit from Islamic State insurgents, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, describing the operation as “stalled.”
Policeman, two soldiers killed in attacks in Egypt’s Sinai: sources
ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) – Two Egyptian soldiers and a policeman were killed in separate attacks in North Sinai on Tuesday, medical and security sources said, the latest in a string of attacks on the peninsula bordering Israel and the Suez Canal.
