Exclusive: U.S. discloses secret Somalia military presence, up to 120 troops
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. military advisors have secretly operated in Somalia since around 2007 and Washington plans to deepen its security assistance to help the country fend off threats by Islamist militant group al Shabaab, U.S. officials said.
Italy’s Renzi says Europe must boost growth
STRASBOURG France (Reuters) – Prime Minister Matteo Renzi kicked off Italy’s six-month spell in the rotating presidency of the European Union with a fresh call for action to boost economic growth in the 28-member bloc.
Ships transfer Syrian chemical agents in southern Italy
ROME (Reuters) – A Danish ship carrying some of Syria’s most dangerous chemical agents transferred them on Wednesday to an American cargo vessel equipped with special gear to neutralise them at sea, officials said.
Berlin talks bring Russia and Ukraine closer to resuming ceasefire
BERLIN/KIEV (Reuters) – The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine agreed in Berlin on Wednesday to hold three-way talks involving pro-Moscow rebels by Saturday to pave the way for a new ceasefire, despite continued fighting that Kiev says has now kil…
Blackout hits northern Chile, unclear if copper mines affected
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chile’s northern regions were hit by a power outage on Wednesday, the nation’s emergency office said, though it was not immediately clear if production at some of the area’s massive copper mines was impacted.
Iran says it will not ‘kneel’ as nuclear talks enter crunch time
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to YouTube on Wednesday to deliver a message that Iran was ready to take steps to ensure its nuclear programme remains peaceful but would not “kneel in submission” to do a deal with …
Four Tunisian soldiers killed in landmine blast
TUNIS (Reuters) – Four Tunisian soldiers were killed in a landmine blast during an operation against Islamist militants in the north of the country, TAP state news agency reported on Wednesday.
Eighty-one more migrants reported dead or missing on sea route to Italy: UNHCR
ROME (Reuters) – Migrants arriving on boats in southern Italy say 81 other people traveling with them have died or gone missing during their sea journeys from north Africa, the UN refugee agency said on Wednesday.
Judge orders Benghazi suspect to remain in U.S. custody
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Libyan militant accused of involvement in the 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya will remain in U.S. custody as he awaits trial, a federal judge said on Wednesday.
New Pakistan anti-terror law raises fears over civil rights
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s parliament passed a law on Wednesday giving security forces sweeping powers to clamp down on militancy, but some activists and legislators criticized the provisions as too harsh.
