EU’s new executive largely clears parliamentary hurdle
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A left-right alliance of big parties in the European Parliament delivered a near-complete endorsement of the new EU executive on Wednesday, after a week of partisan haggling that threatened to wreck Jean-Claude Juncker’s line-up.
U.S. military says air power may not save Syrian town of Kobani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military on Wednesday said air power alone may not save the Syrian town of Kobani from Islamic State militants as U.S. officials appeared to brace for the town’s fall.
Budget divisions overshadow EU jobs talks
MILAN (Reuters) – France and Italy pressed for an easing of budget restrictions to stimulate growth and cut unemployment in Europe on Wednesday but won no concessions from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who insisted countries had to move faster on re…
Italy’s Renzi faces confidence vote over labor reform
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi faces the most important parliamentary confidence vote of his eight-month-old government, asking coalition partners to endorse labor reforms in a move he hopes will boost his European Union credentia…
Drone strike kills two suspected militants in northwest Pakistan
WANA Pakistan (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike killed two suspected militants in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, security officials said, the latest in a rapid escalation of strikes this week.
Nigeria says cash for arms seized in South Africa was ‘legitimate’
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria said on Wednesday that $15 million that had been seized by South African authorities in two separate incidents was money for ‘legitimate’ arms deals, and it urged its rival African power to release the funds.
More funds needed for million Syrian refugees in Turkey: UNHCR
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – More than a million Syrian refugees in Turkey may go without food, medicine and shelter unless there is an increase in international funding, the U.N. refugee agency said on Wednesday.
Five more civilians killed in worst India-Pakistan fighting for years
SRINAGAR/DHAMALA (Reuters) – Five civilians were killed and thousands took refuge in camps in the disputed region of Kashmir on Wednesday after some of the most intense fighting between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India in a decade.
Turkey expects Cyprus to swiftly resume peace talks
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey expects Greek Cypriots to quickly reverse a decision to halt reunification talks with Turkish Cypriots and resume their dialogue or risk harming peace prospects in a troubled region, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday.
Bulgaria rejects Russian accusation of betrayal over warplanes
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria on Wednesday rejected Russian accusations that it was betraying its former Soviet-era ally by considering replacing its ageing Russian warplanes with ones built in the West.
