Australian PM plays down bullying allegations in spat with Indonesia
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott attempted on Thursday to play down allegations of bullying Indonesia as a diplomatic rift deepens between the uneasy neighbors over Jakarta’s planned executions of two Australian drug smugglers.
Haiti to implement safety measures after Carnival tragedy
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – The Haitian government raised the death toll from Tuesday’s electrocution of a Carnival float to 18 and said it was exploring measures to prevent future incidents involving overhead high voltage power lines, the Minister of C…
U.S. accuses Israel of inaccurate leaks on Iran nuclear talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States accused Israel on Wednesday of distorting its position in the Iran nuclear talks through selective leaks, intensifying tensions before a controversial U.S. visit by Israel’s prime minister.
Argentines demand independent judiciary in huge street march
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of protesters marched peacefully through the Argentine capital on Wednesday demanding an independent judiciary, as the country reels from the death of a state prosecutor who had been investigating the presiden…
U.S. identifies 1,200 potential fighters for Syria training
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has so far identified about 1,200 Syrian opposition fighters for potential participation in a U.S. military-led program to help train and equip them to battle the Islamic State, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Libya, Egypt ask U.N. to lift arms embargo to fight Islamic State
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Libya and Egypt asked the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to lift an arms embargo on Libya, impose a naval blockade on areas not under government control and help build the country’s army to tackle Islamic State …
India’s ailing air force at risk in tough neighborhood
BENGALURU, India (Reuters) – India’s air force risks a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new western warplanes or if local defense contractors can’t produce what the military needs in a timely manner.
Nigeria military says it kills 300 Islamists as neighbours join fight
MAROUA, Cameroon/MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigerian forces have killed more than 300 Boko Haram fighters during an operation to recapture 11 towns and villages since the start of the week, the military said on Wednesday, as its war increasingly su…
U.S. delegation heads to Geneva for another round of Iran talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. negotiator Wendy Sherman will lead a U.S. delegation to Geneva on Thursday for talks with Iranian officials over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian forces quit besieged town after rebel assault
ARTEMIVSK/BULAVYNE, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine pulled thousands of troops out of an encircled town on Wednesday after a massive assault by pro-Russian rebels, who ignored a new ceasefire to seize the strategic railway junction.
