NATO to keep around 12,000 troops in Afghanistan next year: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A NATO-led training mission in Afghanistan next year is likely to total about 12,000 soldiers, including about 8,000 Americans, while some 1,800 Americans will conduct counter-terrorism missions, a senior U.S. military official s…
Defeated Colombian leftist calls on voters to back Santos
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Leftist politician Clara Lopez, who was defeated in the first round of Colombia’s presidential elections, has called on her supporters to back incumbent Juan Manuel Santos in the June 15 runoff vote to keep the country’s peace proces…
Speed, driver’s actions caused Spanish train disaster: ministry
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s worst train disaster in decades, which killed 79 people last year, was caused by excessive speed and the driver’s failure to brake in time, according to a report by the country’s Public Works Ministry.
Gunmen kill Red Cross official in Libya, fire grenade at PM’s office
TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Gunmen in Libya shot dead a Swiss national working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), fired a grenade at the prime minister’s office and tried to kill a renegade general in a series of attacks o…
Kerry says Lebanon needs president to meet security challenge
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Lebanon’s politicians on Wednesday to overcome their “deeply troubling” stalemate and elect a new president to help respond to the damaging fallout of civil war in neighbouring Syria.
Exclusive: Catalan leader says independence vote must go ahead
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Catalan President Artur Mas said on Wednesday his people have the right to decide on breaking away from Spain and he is forging ahead with plans for a Nov. 9 vote on independence that the central government vows to block on consti…
Venice mayor under house arrest in flood barrier graft case
MILAN (Reuters) – Italian authorities put the mayor of Venice under house arrest on Wednesday and issued warrants for more than 30 people for suspected corruption over a 5-billion-euro ($6.8-billion) flood barrier project, the latest scandal to engulf …
July deadline for Iran nuclear deal appears in jeopardy: envoys
NEW YORK/ANKARA (Reuters) – It is increasingly unlikely that six world powers and Iran will meet their July 20 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal for Tehran to curb its nuclear program in return for an end to economic sanctions, diplomats and analy…
West prods Iran to speed up cooperation with IAEA inquiry
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran faced Western pressure on Wednesday to speed up its promised cooperation with a long-stalled U.N. nuclear watchdog investigation into suspected atomic bomb research by Tehran, something the Islamic state denies.
Scottish independence vote will be close, top unionist says
LONDON (Reuters) – Scotland’s vote on leaving the United Kingdom will be close but the economic argument for the 307-year union with England will sway many undecided voters, the head of the anti-secessionist campaign said on Wednesday.
