Cyclone Pam leaves devastation in Vanuatu, 24 confirmed killed
PORTA VILA (Reuters) – Reports from the outer islands of Vanuatu painted a picture of utter destruction after a monster cyclone tore through the South Pacific island nation, flattening buildings and killing at least 24 people.
Oil embargo should be considered if Libya talks fail, Spain says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Spain said on Monday the European Union should consider an oil embargo and freezing of Libyan central bank assets if U.N.-brokered talks to resolve the country’s political crisis failed.
Pakistani man accused of planning Toronto attack kept in custody
TORONTO (Reuters) – A Pakistani man who is accused of planning to bomb the U.S. consulate in Toronto and other targets in the city’s financial district will remain in custody pending an immigration review in April, Canadian media reported on Monday.
Russia starts nationwide show of force
MOSCOW (Reuters) – More than 45,000 Russian troops as well as war planes and submarines started military exercises across much of the country on Monday in one of the Kremlin’s biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows…
Tusk presses EU leaders to pledge to keep sanctions on Russia
ROME/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Council President Donald Tusk is pressing EU leaders to pledge this week to keep sanctions on Russia until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully in place, effectively extending sanctions until at least the end of the year…
Pakistan police use tear gas to break up church attack protests
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani police broke up Christian protesters in the eastern city of Lahore with tear gas and baton charges on Monday, a day after suicide bombers killed at least 16 people outside two churches, police said.
Israel’s game of thrones: first the vote, then the kingmaking
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on March 17, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 120-seat Knesset.
Bahrain seizes bomb-making equipment aboard bus from Iraq: agency
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini security forces have seized bomb-making equipment being smuggled from Iraq aboard a passenger bus for use in attacks in the Gulf Arab kingdom, the public prosecutor said.
Maldives’ foreign minister defends trial of jailed ex-president
COLOMBO/MALE (Reuters) – The Maldives’ Foreign Minister on Monday rejected international criticism of the trial of ex-President Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, who was jailed for 13 years last week.
Kurdish official says Islamic State used chlorine in three attacks
ERBIL (Reuters) – A Kurdish military official said on Monday he had evidence Islamic State has used chlorine as a chemical weapon against peshmerga forces three times in northern Iraq.
