Europe
Taliban: Half of US troops to leave Afghanistan by May 1
Moscow, , Feb 7 (AP/UNB) — A Taliban official said Wednesday that the United States has promised to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April, but the U.S. military said it has received no orders to begin packing up.
UK prime minister vows no return to hard border with Ireland
London, Feb 6 (AP/UNB) — British Prime Minister Theresa May told business leaders in Northern Ireland on Tuesday that she is seeking changes to the U.K.'s withdrawal agreement with the European Union, but not the total removal of the Irish border provision that is the most contentious part of the deal.
Paris apartment fire kills 8; police suspect arson
Paris, Feb 5 (AP/UNB) — A fire in a Paris apartment building early Tuesday that authorities suspect was an arson attack killed eight people and sent residents fleeing to the roof or climbing out their windows to escape.
Australian leader tours floods where 2 men reported missing
Brisbane, Feb 5 (AP/UNB) — Australia's prime minister has toured the flood-stricken city of Townsville where two men have been reported missing.
EU, Arab League agree to disagree over meeting statement
Brussels, Feb 5 (AP/UNB) — The European Union and Arab League say they agree on tackling conflicts in Syria and Yemen or stalled Middle East peace efforts but were unable to approve a joint statement at talks in Brussels.
Convictions issued over Hungary sludge flood that killed 8
Budapest, Feb 5 (AP/UNB) — Two former executives of an alumina plant in Hungary were convicted and sentenced to prison Monday for an industrial disaster that killed eight people and injured more than 220 in flooded towns and villages, a Hungarian court said.
UK official signs order to extradite tycoon Mallya to India
London, Feb 5 (AP/UNB) — A British official has signed an order that paves the way for tycoon Vijay Mallya's extradition to India to face financial fraud allegations.
Bus crash south of Moscow kills 7, injures 32 others
Moscow, Feb 3 (AP/UNB) — A bus crashed south of Moscow on Sunday, killing at least seven people, four of them children, and sending 32 others to the hospital with injuries, authorities said.
Venezuela's Guaido urges military defections amid protests
Caracas, Feb 3 (AP/UNB) — Venezuela's opposition leader called on more members of the military to abandon the country's socialist government following the defection of a high-ranking general, while President Nicolas Maduro proposed holding early National Assembly elections that could potentially oust his challenger.
Salvadoran front-runner seeks to end corruption, violence
San Salvador, Feb 3 (AP/UNB) — Salvadorans are choosing Sunday from among a handful of presidential candidates all promising to end corruption, stamp out gang violence and create more jobs in the Central American nation.