KIEV, Ukraine – Ukrainian police officers charged into a televised government meeting Wednesday and detained two top officials on suspicion of extorting bribes. Police snapped handcuffs onto emergency services chief Serhiy Bochkovsky and his deputy and calmly marched the pair out of the Cabinet meeting. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said …
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Whether or not Secretary of State John Kerry succeeds at nuclear talks in Lausanne with Iran, his name will live on in this lakeside Swiss city — as a pizza. Garnished with chicken, bacon, onions and rocket salad, the “John Kerry mini-pizza” went on sale Monday at …
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UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. Security Council urged Congo’s president on Thursday to quickly sign a document authorizing a joint U.N.-Congolese military operation against a rebel group that failed to surrender by a Jan. 2 deadline. A presidential statement approved by all 15 council members reiterated the council’s readiness to …
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MAPUTO, Mozambique – Health authorities in Mozambique say three more people have died from drinking contaminated beer, bringing the number of fatalities to 72. Provincial Health, Women and Social Welfare Director Paula Bernardo told Radio Mozambique on Tuesday that the number of people hospitalized had decreased to 35, from 196. …
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MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s finance secretary says plunging oil prices may delay bidding on some oil and gas exploration and production contracts. Luis Videgaray said in a radio interview Thursday it is likely bidding will be delayed for so-called unconventional exploration projects, such as shale deposits that are more challenging …
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MOSCOW – Russia and Iran have signed an agreement to expand their military ties. In remarks carried by Russian news agencies, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in Tehran Tuesday that the new agreement includes expanded counter-terrorism cooperation, exchanges of military personnel for training purposes and an understanding for each …
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MEXICO CITY – Authorities say 15 people were killed and 26 more injured in a fiery bush crash in northwestern Mexico. Sonora state police report that the bus was apparently speeding when it collided with a farm truck loaded with squash. It flipped over, fell about 15 feet (4 to …
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OTTAWA, Ontario – The wife of an imprisoned Saudi blogger, sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes on that he insulted Islam, says her husband can’t endure another flogging. Raif Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar, now a refugee living in Quebec, went Parliament Hill on Thursday and joined lawmakers …
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PARIS – France’s Parliament has started debating a bill promoted by the Socialist government aimed at freeing up the country’s labor rules and regulations, in order to boost hiring. Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron told the National Assembly on Monday that the bill will inject “more vitality, more justice and more …
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CANBERRA, Australia – Australia’s beleaguered prime minister has ruled out throwing his job open to challengers with a leadership ballot to demonstrate his control over his government, warning his colleagues that voters crave stability. Lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Party are pressuring Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the party’s former leader, …
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