U.S. eyes military supplies for Ukraine, seeks to avoid escalation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Thursday it was focusing for now on Ukrainian requests for non-lethal support, as opposed to any weaponry, as a senior U.S. official said Washington wanted to avoid further militarizing the standoff with Russ…
At least 14 Iraq SWAT forces killed in explosives-rigged house
RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) – At least 14 Iraqi SWAT forces were killed on Thursday when they entered a house rigged with explosives in the western province of Anbar, where the army is engaged in a near-three month conflict with Sunni militants.
Ahead of referendum, UK’s Labour promises Scots greater powers
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour Party will give the Scottish parliament greater tax powers if Scots vote against independence from the United Kingdom, its leader Ed Miliband will say on Friday.
Egypt sentences 17 people to long jail terms for protests
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced 17 people to 14 years in jail each on charges including assault and occupying public buildings during protests at Cairo’s Al-Azhar University last year.
Sarkozy denounces “Stasi” phone-tapping
PARIS (Reuters) – Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has attacked the phone-tapping conducted by magistrates investigating him, breaking his silence on the subject to liken the actions to those of the “Stasi” police of former Communist East German…
Ivory Coast to send Ble Goude to The Hague court
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Ivory Coast will send Charles Ble Goude, a close ally of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, to the International Criminal Court to face charges of crimes against humanity, the justice minister said on Thursday.
Gunmen attack hotel in Afghan capital; police kill 4 attackers
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban gunmen attacked a luxury hotel on Thursday in the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul, police said, and four of the assailants were killed in a shootout with Afghan security forces.
Colombia’s Santos slips in poll but still election favorite
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Support for Colombia’s center-right President Juan Manuel Santos has slipped in a survey of voters’ intentions for May 25 elections, but he remains the clear front runner in a race that will center on how to end the country’s five-de…
Lebanon’s new government gets go-ahead from parliament
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s parliament gave a newly-formed cabinet a vote of confidence on Thursday, ending almost a year of political deadlock during which the country has been pulled further into the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Dutch rightist politician quits over anti-Moroccan chants
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A parliamentarian for the Dutch hard-right Freedom Party resigned from the party on Thursday amid uproar over the way leader Geert Wilders led supporters in racist chants against Moroccans during an election night rally.
