Brazil, Mexico, France to back Argentina in bonds case in U.S. court
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Brazil, France and Mexico are expected to file papers in the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday backing Argentina in its legal battle with bondholders who refused to take part in debt restructurings from the country’s 2002 default, acc…
Aid officials frustrated as Syria convoy halted on second day
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The first U.N. convoy carrying aid from Turkey into Syria was halted on Friday, less than 24 hours after the long-awaited humanitarian mission began, with one aid official blaming “administrative hurdles” thrown up by the Syrian go…
Uruguay asks U.S. to free Cubans in return for Guantanamo transfer
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – Uruguay has asked the United States to free Cuban prisoners as a gesture in return for the South American country agreeing to accept detainees from the much-criticized Guantanamo detention center, President Jose Mujica said on Fr…
Algerian opposition rallies against Bouteflika re-run in April election
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algerian opposition parties rallied several thousand supporters on Friday to call for a boycott of next month’s election and to reject President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s run for another term after 15 years in power.
Bomb explodes on runway of Libya’s main airport in Tripoli
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – A bomb exploded on the runway of Libya’s main airport on Friday, the transport minister said, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the north African country almost three years after Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.
Italy’s Renzi brushes off talk of EU mocking over budget
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi brushed off suggestions of tensions with the EU on Friday after newspapers accused senior officials of smirking at a news conference when asked if Rome may be granted extra flexibility on its bud…
Gunmen ram explosives-laden tanker into Iraq police HQ, killing 15
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – Scores of gunmen took over a federal police headquarters in northern Iraq on Friday before ramming a tanker laden with explosives into the building, killing at least 15 people, a government official said.
Taliban gun down Kabul diners in pre-election attack
KABUL (Reuters) – A Taliban assault on the restaurant of a luxury hotel, considered one of the safest places in Kabul and frequented by foreigners and Afghan officials, has swelled a tide of violence sweeping Afghanistan two weeks before a presidential…
Ukrainian industrialist Firtash released after posting bail
VIENNA (Reuters) – Ukrainian industrialist Dmytro Firtash, wanted by the United States, was released from detention in Austria on Friday after posting bail of 125 million euros ($174 million), a Vienna court said.
U.N. rights investigator accuses Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’
GENEVA (Reuters) – A U.N. human rights investigator accused Israel on Friday of “ethnic cleansing” in pushing Palestinians out of East Jerusalem and cast doubt that the Israeli government could accept a Palestinian state in the current climate.