Colombia peace possible by year’s end, President says
GENEVA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday an agreement with the Marxist FARC rebels to end their 50-year-old insurgency could be reached by the end of this year if there were “sufficient political will”.
Ex-Soviet states return people to torture in Central Asia: Amnesty
KIEV (Reuters) – Amnesty International accused Russia, Ukraine and the five Central Asian states on Wednesday of colluding in abductions and unlawful transfers of asylum-seekers and refugees back to Central Asia where they faced the risk of torture.
Suez Canal secured, unaffected by Egypt events: statement
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Suez Canal waterway is completely secure and the rate of ships passing through is normal, the head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Memish said in a statement on Wednesday.
American jailed in North Korea asks U.S. for help: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Korean-American sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea is asking U.S. officials to help secure his release from prison and is seeking forgiveness from North Korean officials, according to a media report on Wednesday.
St Petersburg blast blows off man’s hand: Russian media
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A package exploded in a man’s hand outside a McDonald’s restaurant on the main boulevard in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Wednesday, injuring him but causing no other casualties, Russian media reported.
India to question U.S. over ‘serious allegations’ of embassy spying
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India will raise with Washington what it called serious allegations that the United States “intrusively monitored” the Indian embassy there, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Belgian king to address nation amid abdication speculation
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium’s King Albert II will give a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, the royal palace said, amid frenzied speculation in the local media that the 79-year-old monarch will step down.
With eye on elections, India launches giant cheap food program
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Indian government launched a $22 billion welfare program on Wednesday to give cheap food to hundreds of millions of people, a center-piece of the ruling Congress party’s plan to win a third term in office in elections due by M…
Egyptian army secures state TV studios: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian troops with armored vehicles have secured the central Cairo studios of state television on Wednesday, security sources said.
South American leaders to meet on Bolivian plane diversion
GENEVA (Reuters) – Latin American presidents plan an emergency meeting on Wednesday over the diversion to Austria of a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales, the Bolivian ambassador to the United Nations said.
