Kremlin saw plan to annex Crimea before Yanukovich fell: newspaper
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin was presented with a plan to annex the Crimea peninsula and eastern Ukraine before the overthrow of the country’s Moscow-leaning president last year, an independent newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Libyan parliament proposes Haftar, a divisive figure, as head of army
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – The president of Libya’s elected parliament has proposed the appointment of General Khalifa Haftar, who leads his own troops, as commander of the army loyal to the government based in the east of the country, the parliament …
Netanyahu accuses West of forsaking non-nuclear Iran pledge
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rebuffed criticism in Washington of his plans to speak in Congress, accusing world powers of forsaking a pledge to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Syria’s Assad meets French lawmakers
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Wednesday with French parliamentarians, the first such meeting since France closed its embassy in 2012 and announced that Syria’s leader had lost all legitimacy.
In holy city, Iran’s Rouhani seeks clergy’s backing for nuclear talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited the holy city of Qom on Wednesday to appeal to its clergy, religious students and lay people to back his efforts to strike a deal with major powers over the country’s disputed nuclear program….
Jamaican parliament clears way for marijuana reforms
KINGSTON (Reuters) – Jamaica’s parliament cleared the way for decriminalizing marijuana by approving amendments to its Dangerous Drugs Act late Tuesday night.
France plans broader dialogue with its large Muslim minority
PARIS (Reuters) – France outlined plans for a broader dialogue with its Muslim minority on Wednesday after the faith’s official council proved unable to deal with the challenges presented by Islamist radicalization.
Food aid resumes for refugees in Niger after Boko Haram scare
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Food aid is again flowing to thousands of refugees on the border between Niger and Nigeria, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday, ending a suspension of deliveries by humanitarian groups because they fear…
Islamic State seize 100 Iraqi tribesmen before battle for Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters have abducted 100 Sunni Muslim tribesmen near the city of Tikrit, local tribal leaders said on Wednesday, apparently to neutralize suspected opponents before a widely expected army offensive.
Kazakh veteran leader calls snap presidential poll on April 26
ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Wednesday called an early presidential election in the oil-producing Central Asian state on April 26.
