Reuters: World News

Discord thwarts U.N. nuclear watchdog's plans for virtual Iran meeting

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:47:23 -0400

Opposition led by China to a planned resolution rebuking Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board has forced it to call an in-person session after four days of meeting online because of the coronavirus, diplomats said on Thursday.

Iran foreign minister: An 'agreeable solution' possible for IAEA inspection request

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:46:44 -0400

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that "an agreeable solution is possible" for the United Nations nuclear watchdog's request for access to two nuclear sites in the country.

Colombian army frees two foreigners held by FARC dissidents

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:44:43 -0400

Colombian soldiers have freed two foreign nationals who were being held hostage by FARC rebel dissidents in the country's southwestern Cauca province, the government said on Thursday.

Gaza horse riders compete again as coronavirus curbs eased

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:39:01 -0400

Wearing riding pants, logo-decorated shirts and helmets, Gaza horse-riders resumed local show-jumping competitions on Thursday as coronavirus restrictions were eased.

Brazil education minister steps down, heading to World Bank

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:22:22 -0400

Brazilian Education Minister Abraham Weintraub on Thursday announced he was stepping down to take a role at the World Bank.

U.S. sanctions Mexican firms, individuals over links to Venezuela

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:19:26 -0400

The United States on Thursday blacklisted Mexican company Libre Abordo and a related firm, accusing them of helping Caracas evade U.S. sanctions in the first formal action taken by the Treasury Department against Mexican companies involved in trading Venezuelan oil.

Brexit deadline looms over day of Anglo-French solidarity

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 15:04:30 -0400

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told France's President Emmanuel Macron that talks on a post Brexit deal cannot drag on into the autumn, as the French leader visited London to mark the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle's call for wartime resistance,

Brazil police arrest former aide to president's son in graft probe

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:52:38 -0400

Brazilian police on Thursday arrested a former aide to Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son in a graft investigation threatening to undermine the president's pledge to crack down on corruption and ratchet up his battle with the judiciary.

New French coronavirus deaths steady, infections creep up

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:50:06 -0400

The number of people who died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 28 to 29,603 on Thursday, the same increase as Wednesday, but the number of new confirmed cases crept up again to reach a five-day high.

Canada hits 100,000 coronavirus cases, major challenges remain

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:36:43 -0400

Canada officially racked up 100,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday and although the outbreak is slowing, health experts said major challenges remain.

German prosecutors accuse Russia of ordering murder of former Chechen rebel in Berlin

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:35:17 -0400

German federal prosecutors accused Russia on Thursday of ordering the killing of a former Chechen rebel in Berlin last summer and indicted a Russian man for the murder, which has severely strained diplomatic ties.

Romanians protest against ban on gender identity studies

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:33:11 -0400

Hundreds protested outside the Romanian president's palace on Thursday against a proposed ban on gender identity studies which they said would infringe human rights and fuel discrimination.

Satellite images suggest Chinese activity at Himalayan border with India before clash

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:31:37 -0400

In the days leading up to the most violent border clash between India and China in decades, China brought in pieces of machinery, cut a trail into a Himalayan mountainside and may have even dammed a river, satellite pictures suggest.

Iran's death toll from coronavirus outbreak approaches 10,000

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:25:59 -0400

Iran is approaching 10,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in the country, according to official figures from the Ministry of Health.

Canada's Trudeau backs opposition leader kicked out of Parliament in racism row

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:24:11 -0400

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday backed the leader of an opposition party who was ejected from the House of Commons for branding a member of another party a racist and refusing to apologize.

Diplomacy in the time of coronavirus: Johnson and Macron trade bows, thumbs up

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:23:14 -0400

Standing apart on either side of a strip of red carpet outside Number 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron demonstrated the unusual reality of international diplomacy in the coronavirus era.

U.S. House panel hears from Facebook, Google, Twitter on election security

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:20:41 -0400

Top officials from Facebook, Google and Twitter were grilled by U.S. lawmakers on Thursday at a virtual hearing on foreign influence and election security ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential contest.

Belarus president's main rival held in pre-election clampdown

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:08:43 -0400

President Alexander Lukashenko's main rival was detained on Thursday and accused of siphoning $430 million out of Belarus, in a widening crackdown ahead of August's presidential election.

Reluctance to free 'most dangerous' Taliban prisoners slows Afghan peace talks: sources

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:06:09 -0400

Western powers are backing the Afghan government's refusal to free hundreds of prisoners accused of some of Afghanistan's most violent attacks, a release demanded by the Taliban as a condition to start peace talks, five sources told Reuters.

Lloyd's of London to pay for 'shameful' Atlantic slave trade role

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:59:24 -0400

The Lloyd's of London insurance market apologised on Thursday for its "shameful" role in the 18th and 19th Century Atlantic slave trade and pledged to fund opportunities for black and ethnic minority people.