U.S., Russia, other big powers meet on Syria in New York
Hold – UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The five permanent veto-wielding powers of the U.N. Security Council met in New York on Wednesday to discuss plans to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control as Britain, France and the United States …
Mexico’s government willing to revise tax plan seen hitting middle class
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican government said on Wednesday it was open to exploring alternatives to some of the more divisive proposals in a newly unveiled tax overhaul, faced with a growing chorus of resistance to measures that critics say hurt …
Satellite image suggests North Korea has restarted Yongbyon nuclear reactor: U.S. group
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Satellite imagery suggests that North Korea has restarted a research reactor capable of producing plutonium for weapons at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, a U.S. research institute said on Wednesday.
Diplomatic efforts intensify on corralling Syrian chemical arms
GENEVA/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Diplomatic efforts toward placing Syria’s chemical weapons under international control intensified on Wednesday and U.N. investigators concluded Syrian government forces were almost certainly responsible for two May ma…
Catalans form human chain to press for independence from Spain
BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of Catalans held hands in a 400-km (250-mile) human chain across their region on Wednesday to press the Spanish government to let them vote on breaking away and forming their own country.
Bomb damages Libyan foreign ministry building in Benghazi
BENGHAZI/TRIPOLI, Libya (Reuters) – A car bomb damaged a Libyan foreign ministry building in Benghazi on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. consulate in the country’s second largest city.
Mali army, rebels clash for first time since peace deal
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Three Malian soldiers were wounded in clashes with separatist Tuareg rebels on Wednesday, the army said, the first clashes since the two sides signed a ceasefire deal in June.
Algeria’s Bouteflika names new ministers months after stroke
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika named new ministers for foreign affairs, the interior and justice on Wednesday in what appeared to be major resumption of political activity since suffering a stroke in April.
U.S. sees ‘troubling’ Iran nuclear moves, seeks steps by Tehran
VIENNA (Reuters) – The United States said on Wednesday it saw “troubling developments” in Iran’s nuclear program and called on the country’s new president to take concrete steps soon to ease concerns about Tehran’s aims.
Bombings at Shi’ite mosque in Baghdad kill at least 33
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A co-ordinated car and suicide bomb attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the Iraqi capital killed at least 33 people on Wednesday evening, police and medical sources said.