Germany reacts coolly to French request on Central Africa
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany reacted coolly on Wednesday to a French request that European countries step up support for its military mission in Central African Republic, playing down the likelihood of any financial assistance on the eve of an EU summit….
Suicide bomber kills three soldiers in attack on Pakistan checkpoint
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – A suicide bomb attack on a Pakistani checkpoint in the lawless region of North Waziristan killed at least three soldiers and wounded 32 people on Wednesday, intelligence and militant sources said.
China confirms near miss with U.S. ship in South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday confirmed an incident between a Chinese naval vessel and a U.S. warship in the South China Sea, after Washington said a U.S. guided missile cruiser had avoided a collision with a Chinese warship maneuvering nearby…
Analysis: Constitutional reforms may see Algeria’s ageing Bouteflika run again
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Eight months after Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika suffered a debilitating stroke, his allies are promoting constitutional changes including a new vice presidency, which may let the ageing independence veteran run for a four…
Berlusconi denied passport, stranded in Italy during Belgian meeting
MILAN (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi has lost a legal bid to reclaim his passport, judicial sources told Reuters on Wednesday, leaving the scandal-hit former prime minister stranded in Italy while fellow conservatives travel to a conference near Brussel…
Malian president’s party wins legislative elections
BAMAKO (Reuters) – The party of Mali’s president and its political allies have won a comfortable majority in a parliamentary election intended to seal to a return to democratic civilian rule following an army coup in March 2012.
Exclusive: Iranian linked to Setad wanted by U.S. for attempted arms smuggling
(Reuters) – An Iranian businessman linked to a sprawling conglomerate controlled by Iran’s supreme leader is wanted by the United States for allegedly trying to purchase hundreds of American-made assault rifles to smuggle into Iran.
Uncertainty over security pact drives final nail into Afghan bubble
KABUL (Reuters) – When Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced he would delay signing a vital security pact with the United States, amid the hubbub of dismay, the Afghan elite gathered in the room might have heard the sound of the country’s economic bu…
EU executive threatens Italy with legal action over migrants
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission threatened Italy with legal action on Wednesday for possible breaches of the EU’s rules on granting asylum, over its treatment of migrants arriving from Africa on the island of Lampedusa.
As Yemen rebuilds, policy paralysis drags on economy
SANAA (Reuters) – Abdulkhaleq, a 28-year-old Yemeni who worked illegally in Saudi Arabia for five years, returned to his country last month because of a crackdown by Saudi visa authorities. He aims to leave Yemen again as soon as possible.
