Italy president says he will step down soon
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s 89-year-old President Giorgio Napolitano said on Wednesday that he would step down soon because of his age, leaving Prime Minister Matteo Renzi facing a delicate political challenge to replace him.
Five dead in New Year’s Eve clashes on India-Pakistan border
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Indian border forces killed four Pakistani interior-ministry troops on New Year’s Eve, ending a year in which clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated and hopes for reconciliation faded.
Son of Cape Verde prime minister seriously wounded in shooting
PRAIA (Reuters) – The son of Cape Verde’s prime minister had been seriously wounded by an unknown attacker who shot him outside his home in a middle class neighborhood of the capital Praia, medical authorities said on Wednesday.
Bodies from crashed AirAsia plane arrive in Indonesian city
PANGKALAN BUN/SURABAYA, Indonesia (Reuters) – The first two bodies from the AirAsia plane that crashed off the coast of Borneo arrived on Wednesday in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, where relatives have gathered to await news of their loved ones.
U.S. confirms drone strike killed al Shabaab leader in Somalia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An unmanned U.S. aircraft that unleashed Hellfire missiles at a vehicle in Somalia earlier this week killed a leader of the al Shabaab militant group, dealing a setback to its ability to carry out anti-government attacks, the Pen…
Cuban blogger says husband freed, other activists still detained
HAVANA (Reuters) – A prominent opposition blogger in Cuba said her husband was freed by the authorities overnight but several dissidents were still in custody on Wednesday, a day after they were arrested in a move that drew condemnation from the United…
Russia’s Putin praises Crimea’s ‘return home’ in New Year address
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised New Year’s address on Wednesday that the “return home” of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula to Moscow’s control would forever remain an important chapter in Russia’s history.
Bosnian indicted over recruiting militants for Syria and Iraq
SARAJEVO (Reuters) – A Bosnian court indicted a Muslim priest on Wednesday for recruiting people to fight for the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, using a new law aimed at stopping people traveling to fight alongside militants in the Middle East….
Retired Afghan leader meets, advises successor ‘almost daily’
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s retired president, Hamid Karzai, meets his successor almost every day and advises him on key policy issues, he said in an interview, a role that could raise concerns in the West over ties with Kabul.
U.S.-led forces launch 10 air strikes in Syria, Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition launched seven air strikes in Syria and three in Iraq on Wednesday against Islamic State militants, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
