Russian troops giving ‘backbone’ to Ukraine rebels: NATO commander
KIEV (Reuters) – Russian forces are still operating in eastern Ukraine, providing the backbone of separatist rebels fighting the Kiev government, NATO’s top military commander said on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian leaders.
Egyptian inquiry into political violence seeks changes to protest law
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian committee investigating political violence made a rare break on Wednesday with judicial support for heavy-handed state tactics, recommending the government should amend a law restricting protest.
Colombia general, other FARC captives may be free Saturday: Santos
BOGOTA (Reuters) – A Colombian general and two others taken captive by Marxist FARC rebels could be free by Saturday, President Juan Manuel Santos said, in a move that may lead to the restart of suspended peace negotiations to end 50 years of war.
Spain’s health minister resigns in kickback scandal
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Health Minister Ana Mato, whose former husband is linked to a wide-ranging corruption scandal involving Spain’s ruling People’s Party, said on Wednesday she had presented her resignation from the post.
Hong Kong riot police clear protest site, arrest student leaders
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong police on Wednesday cleared one of the largest protest sites that have choked the city for months, arresting scores of pro-democracy activists in a blow to those hoping to wrest greater political freedom from authorities…
U.S. drone strike in Pakistan kills five suspected militants
PARICHINAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – A U.S. drone killed five suspected militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, a militant and a government official said, as the intensity of air strikes grew as part of an anti-Taliban offensive by the Pakistani mili…
Catalonia moves closer to early election as dialogue hopes fade
MADRID (Reuters) – Catalonia’s two main parties on Wednesday moved a step closer to calling a snap regional election they want to use as a proxy for a referendum on independence from Spain.
British brothers jailed for attending militant training camp in Syria
LONDON (Reuters) – Two brothers from London on Wednesday became the first Britons to be convicted for attending a militant training camp in Syria as Western governments increasingly warn of the threat posed by fighters returning from conflicts in the M…
Egypt plans blanket anti-terrorism law against ‘disrupting order’
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft anti-terrorism law that would give the government blanket power to ban groups on charges ranging from harming national unity to disrupting public order.
IAEA says needs more money to monitor extended Iran nuclear deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. atomic agency will need more funds from member states to help pay for its monitoring of an extended interim nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, it said on Wednesday.
