New U.S. defense chief silent on date of Mosul offensive
KABUL (Reuters) – New U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Saturday he would not telegraph the precise timing of an upcoming Iraqi offensive to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, after a U.S. military briefing caused an uproar….
Venezuela indicts opposition mayor on charges of conspiring
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela on Friday indicted a veteran Caracas mayor on charges of plotting violence against President Nicolas Maduro’s government and ordered he be jailed in a military prison pending trial.
Russian Finance Minister says Moody’s downgrade had ‘political character’
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moody’s downgrade of Russia’s sovereign rating was based on “factors of a political character,” Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said early on Saturday following news that Moody’s had cut the rating to below investment grade….
Islamic State militants claim suicide attacks in Libya that kill 42
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Militants claiming loyalty to Islamic State killed 42 people in suicide car bombings in eastern Libya on Friday, in apparent retaliation for Egyptian air strikes.
Greece, euro zone agree four-month loan extension, avert crunch
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Euro zone finance ministers agreed in principle on Friday to extend Greece’s financial rescue by four months, averting a potential cash crunch in March that could have forced the country out of the currency area.
Kiev accuses Russia of sending more tanks to east Ukraine
DEBALTSEVE, Ukraine/KIEV (Reuters) – Kiev accused Russia on Friday of sending more tanks and troops into eastern Ukraine and said they were heading towards the rebel-held town of Novoazovsk on the southern coast, expanding their presence on what it fea…
British police launch appeal to find ‘Syria-bound’ schoolgirls
LONDON (Reuters) – British police launched an appeal on Friday to trace three London schoolgirls who are believed to be making their way to Syria, having flown to Turkey earlier this week.
‘Self-censoring’ scandal at newspaper roils UK press landscape
LONDON (Reuters) – One of Britain’s most storied newspapers has been accused of self-censoring for commercial gain, raising awkward questions about a centuries-old press culture which has prided itself on its no-holds-barred approach to truth telling.
Venezuela opposition urges release of mayor accused of conspiring
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan opposition leaders and protesters on Friday demanded the release of a veteran Caracas mayor arrested on accusations of plotting violence against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Exclusive: Lawmaker pushes Obama to aid allies in Islamic State fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior Republican lawmaker has told President Barack Obama she was prepared to block foreign aid money if the administration did not provide fighter jets and tanks to Egypt and arms to other regional allies fighting Islamic Sta…
