Merkel backs Juncker for top EU job in speech to parliament
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated in a speech in parliament on Wednesday that she was pressing her European counterparts to support Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission.
India’s top court again rejects Sahara chief’s bail plea
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday once again rejected a bail plea by the chief of the Sahara conglomerate, who has been held in jail for three months over his group’s failure to repay investors who bought bonds that were later ru…
NATO commander accuses Russia of destabilizing eastern Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO’s top military commander accused Russia on Wednesday of destabilizing eastern Ukraine through the use of Russian-backed forces and demanded that it stop interfering.
South Africa’s mining strike could end this week: mines minister
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s new mining minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi said he hoped to resolve the strike in the platinum sector this week, and union AMCU was also optimistic the five-month stoppage that has crippled mine output could be nearin…
Death toll from suicide attack on base of Libyan renegade general rises to four: source
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The death toll from a suicide attack on a base of Libyan renegade general Khalifa Haftar has risen to four, a medical source said on Wednesday.
EU says concerned North Korea increasing nuclear warhead ability
VIENNA (Reuters) – The European Union said on Wednesday it was concerned that North Korea – which has threatened to carry out a new nuclear test – was enhancing its ability to miniaturize nuclear warheads for the country’s missiles.
Four Pakistani soldiers killed in Taliban cross-border attack
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Suspected Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani outposts from positions on the Afghan side of the border, killing four soldiers, Pakistani military officials said on Wednesday.
Obama says U.S. will defend eastern European allies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama underlined U.S. commitment to its NATO allies on Wednesday, showing solidarity with eastern European nations after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.
Turkish security forces, Kurds clash in southeast as protests widen
DIYARBAKIR Turkey (Reuters) – Turkish security forces fired tear gas and water cannon in dawn operations on Wednesday against Kurdish demonstrators blocking highways in southeast Turkey, in an effort to end protests which have spread across the region …
Kuwaiti faces Guantanamo transfer hearing after security assurances
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Kuwaiti held at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison since 2002 faces a parole-style hearing on Wednesday on whether he should be transferred home following Kuwait’s assurances of a rehabilitation program.