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.
World leaders to gather for D-Day, Ukraine crisis casts shadow
PARIS (Reuters) – World leaders meet in Normandy on Friday for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, but with Europe in its worst security crisis since the Cold War, the event will be a backdrop to urgent diplomacy over Ukraine.
Turkey plans tax amnesty ahead of presidential polls
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party is planning a tax amnesty that could see billions of lira worth of unpaid taxes pardoned in the run-up to an August presidential election he is expected to contest.
Inspectors press Syria on chemical arms ‘discrepancies’: envoys
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Inspectors overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal have asked President Bashar al-Assad’s government to clarify disparities in its original declaration on its cache of toxic gas, U.N. diplomats said on …
U.S. criticizes Rwanda over disappearances, press freedom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States expressed deep concern on Wednesday over the arrest and disappearance of dozens of Rwandans over the last two months, including people held up to two months without being charged or allowed to communicate with t…
