Egypt voters overwhelmingly approve constitution: government official
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian voters in a referendum held this week have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, an Interior Ministry official said on Wednesday, a result that could pave the way for army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to announce …
U.S. judge allows Bin Laden driver testimony at Abu Ghaith trial
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former driver for Osama bin Laden and a witness linked to plots to bomb U.S. airliners may testify by video at the U.S. trial of Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of bin Laden and former al Qaeda spokesman charged with conspiring…
U.N. nuclear agency board to meet next week on Iran deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – The 35-nation governing board of the U.N. nuclear agency will meet next week to discuss its role in verifying the implementation of a landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, it said on Wednesday.
Afghan president attacks U.S. over military operation
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s president attacked the United States over a military operation that killed civilians on Wednesday, underlining his growing rift with Washington.
Afghanistan seeks help in drugs fight after opium crop hits record
VIENNA (Reuters) – Afghanistan needs more financial assistance for its anti-narcotics fight after opium cultivation hit a record high last year, a government minister said on Wednesday, as international forces prepare to leave the country.
Iraq draft budget intensifies Kurd oil export row
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Kurdish ministers walked out of a cabinet session on Wednesday in protest at the country’s draft 2014 budget, further complicating a feud over the autonomous region’s plans to export crude via a new pipeline to Turkey.
ICC excuses Kenya’s deputy president from big parts of Hague trial
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – International Criminal Court judges excused Kenyan deputy president William Ruto from large parts of his trial on charges of crimes against humanity on Wednesday in a ruling that could help defuse tensions with Kenya’s African all…
Syria builds dollar reserves, thanks partly to Assad’s enemies
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syria’s central bank has bought hundreds of millions of dollars from the domestic currency market it now tightly controls, helping to build up depleted reserves for an economy crippled by civil war, bankers and dealers say.
U.N. troops fired warning shots to protect South Sudan compound
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. peacekeepers fired warning shots to deter fighters from a United Nations base in South Sudan after gunfire reached the compound, wounding dozens and killing at least one civilian seeking refuge there, a U.N. spokesman sa…
Franco-German energy plan to focus on renewables, not mergers
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande’s surprise announcement of a Franco-German energy joint venture did not target major utilities but renewable energy and electricity networks, his aides said on Wednesday.
