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White House says Afghan peace talks are ‘proceeding’

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Friday to discuss Afghan peace talks and the meeting went “very well, and negotiations are proceeding,” the White House said in a statement. Source: https://www.reuters... More »

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Russia says radiation levels rose by 4-16 times in city after…

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Radiation levels in the Russian city of Severodvinsk rose by up to 16 times on Aug. 8 after an accident that authorities said involved a rocket test on a sea platform, Russia’s state weather agency said on Tuesday, the TASS news agency repor... More »

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Australia to spend $340 million on special forces capability

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will spend A$500 million ($340 million) to improve the capability of its special forces troops, the first stage of a $3 billion, 20-year plan that the government said on Monday will enable a better response to security threats at h... More »

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Ratcliffe tapped to replace Coats as U.S. spy chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would nominate Representative John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican who strongly defended him at a recent congressional hearing, to replace Dan Coats as the U.S. spy chief. Coats, the current U.... More »

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U.S. Supreme Court lets Trump use disputed funds for border wall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday handed President Donald Trump a victory by letting his administration redirect $2.5 billion in money approved by Congress for the Pentagon to help build his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border even... More »

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France’s Le Drian says Europeans must stay united on Iran issue

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that Europe had to remain united in trying to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, and said Tehran should reverse its decision not to comply with parts of the accord. “The Europeans ha... More »

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Probe starts after UAE satellite lost in failed Vega launch

(Reuters) – An investigation is under way after a European Vega rocket failed after take-off, destroying a military observation satellite as it was about to be placed in orbit for the United Arab Emirates, European space authorities said on Thursday. The Itali... More »

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In jab at U.S., China vice president says world cannot shut China out

BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the rest of the world must co-exist, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Monday, in an indirect jab at the United States with which Beijing is currently trying to resolve a bitter trade war. “China’s development can’t shut ... More »

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Venezuela’s Maduro ratifies Padrino as defense minister

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday announced he will maintain Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino in his post, following months of rumors that top military brass would be replaced after a failed uprising in April. The Trump adminis... More »

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Iran’s Zarif says U.S. should respect Iran if it wants to…

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran will never succumb to U.S. pressure and if Washington wants talks with Tehran it should show respect, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday. Tension between Tehran and Washington have risen sharply in recent weeks, a year ... More »

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Iran says downing of U.S. drone was a ‘firm response’, can be…

LONDON (Reuters) – Iran on Monday described its shooting down of a U.S. drone in the Gulf last week as a “firm response” to the United States and warned it could be repeated. “Everyone saw the downing of the unmanned drone,” navy commander Rear Admiral Hossein... More »

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U.N., European bodies outline joint push against space junk

VIENNA (Reuters) – European and U.N. bodies on Thursday outlined a joint push for global action on space junk, saying that debris orbiting the earth must be cleaned up as satellites launched by private companies and other new entrants are adding to the crowdin... More »

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Apollo astronauts celebrate 50 years since first moon landing

PARIS (Reuters) – Three astronauts instrumental in the groundbreaking U.S. space program of the 1960s and 70s gathered at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the mission that first put a man on the moon. Walter Cunning... More »

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Don’t open ‘Pandora’s Box’ in Middle East, China warns

BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese government’s top diplomat warned on Tuesday that the world should not open a “Pandora’s Box” in the Middle East, as he denounced U.S. pressure on Iran and called on it not to drop out of a landmark nuclear deal. Fears of a confr... More »

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U.S. military releases new images from oil tanker attacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military on Monday released new images it says showed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) removing an unexploded limpet mine from a Japanese-owned tanker that was attacked on June 13 in the Gulf of Oman, as Washington blames Tehra... More »

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France’s Macron urges more dialogue with Iran, regrets…

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he regretted Iran’s announcement that it would exceed the allowed enriched uranium limit, but that Paris would hold talks with Iran and its partners to avoid any further escalation in the region... More »

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Japan’s military says pilot vertigo likely cause of F-35 crash

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s air force said on Monday “spatial disorientation” likely caused one of its pilots to fly his F-35 stealth fighters into the Pacific Ocean in April, hitting the water at more than 1,100 kph (683 mph). The Lockheed Martin Corp jet disap... More »

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Trump defends Mexico migration deal and pledges more detail

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump defended his administration’s deal with Mexico against criticism that there were no major new commitments to stem a flow of Central American migrants crossing into the United States, and said on Sunday more de... More »

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China launches rocket from ship at sea for first time

BEIJING (Reuters) – China successfully launched a rocket from a ship at sea for the first time on Wednesday, state media reported, the latest step forward in its ambitious space program. The Long March 11 rocket blasted off from a platform on a large semi-subm... More »

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North Korea’s former top nuclear envoy seen with Kim Jong Un: KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea’s former top nuclear envoy, Kim Yong Chol, accompanied leader Kim Jong Un to an art performance, state news agency KCNA said on Monday, signaling that the former spymaster is alive and remains a force in the power structure. Sunda... More »

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Amid USS McCain controversy, Pentagon says military will not be…

SEOUL (Reuters) – The Pentagon has told the White House that the U.S. military will not be politicized, a U.S. official said on Sunday, in response to a controversy after officials directed the United States Navy to keep the USS John S. McCain out of sight dur... More »

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Taiwan and U.S. security officials hold rare meeting amid China…

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Senior national security officials from the United States and Taiwan have met to deepen cooperation, the government in Taipei said, the first such meeting in four decades that came amid tense relations between the United States and China. Ta... More »

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Trump says considering pardons for some U.S. soldiers accused of…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was considering pardons for “two or three” American soldiers charged with war crimes, a move he also said would be controversial but justified because they had been treated “unfairly.” Trump ... More »

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Ohio House committee passes bill to save nuclear power plants

(Reuters) – A committee in Ohio’s House of Representatives voted along party lines to approve a bill to save the state’s two nuclear power reactors from retirement and provide some financial support for a couple of ailing coal plants. Republicans in the House ... More »

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SpaceX postpones satellite launch in Florida due to high winds

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) – Elon Musk’s SpaceX postponed its planned Wednesday night blastoff of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first cluster of satellites for his new Starlink internet service, citing excessive winds over the Florida launch site. The mis... More »

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China says urges U.S. to stop provocative acts in South China Sea

BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Monday its navy warned U.S. ships sailing near islands claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea to leave the area and that the U.S. should stop such provocative acts. Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers traveled within 12 naut... More »

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Russia calls on U.S. to formally recognize there was no collusion

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry called on the United States on Monday to formally recognize there was no collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump’s campaign at the 2016 elections following the conclusion of a months-long U.S. investigat... More »

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U.S. Navy, Coast Guard ships pass through strategic Taiwan Strait

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States sent Navy and Coast Guard ships through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the U.S. military said, as part of an increase in the frequency of movement through the strategic waterway despite opposition from China. The voyage r... More »

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North Korean officials return to liaison office after pullout

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea reversed a decision to withdraw its staff from an inter-Korean liaison office by sending some back to work on Monday, South Korea said, in a turnaround that came after U.S. President Donald Trump opted not to impose extra sanction... More »

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Trump budget seeks 5 percent cut in non-defense spending: OMB

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will propose in his fiscal 2020 budget on Monday that the U.S. Congress cut non-defense spending by 5 percent while boosting spending on the military, veterans’ healthcare and border security, the White House budge... More »

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Eyes on the sea: companies compete for Australian maritime…

AVALON, Australia (Reuters) – Major global defense contractors want to sell Australia on cutting-edge technology such as high-altitude, solar-electric powered drones and optionally manned aircraft to keep an eye on the oceans. Airbus SE, Italy’s Leonardo SpA, ... More »

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Rolls-Royce scales back on joining fighter jet project with…

(Reuters) – British engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc said on Sunday it had scaled back efforts to join a Turkish program to build a new fighter jet with Turkey’s Kale Group. Talks between Kale and Rolls-Royce ran into problems last year because of a dispu... More »

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Trump says big U.S. savings in curbing joint South Korea military…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Sunday the reason he wanted to curb military drills with South Korea was to save the United States hundreds of millions of dollars in costs, and suggested it could also reduce tensions with North Korea. “Th... More »

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U.S. Air Force grounds Boeing’s KC-46 tankers over debris issue

(Reuters) – The U.S. Air force said on Friday it had stopped accepting Boeing Co’s KC-46 tankers since Feb. 20 and is working with the company to resolve the issue of foreign object debris (FOD) that were found in the aircraft. “No aircraft have been accepted ... More »

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Boeing shifting spare parts in preparation for Brexit: executive

AVALON, Australia (Reuters) – Boeing Co has been shifting spare parts between its distribution centers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world in preparation for Brexit, an executive said on Tuesday. Britain’s potential exit from the European Union wi... More »

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Wisconsin governor pulls troops from U.S.-Mexico border

(Reuters) – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Monday signed an order withdrawing the state’s National Guard troops from the U.S.-Mexico border, saying there was not enough evidence of a national security crisis to justify keeping them there. The Democratic gove... More »

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Explainer: Trump risks legal fight with emergency threat on wall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will almost certainly face legal challenges over his decision to declare a national emergency to get additional funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, circumventing the power of Congress to set spending policy. Leg... More »

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Merkel confirms EU deal on Nord Stream 2 pipeline

BERLIN (Reuters) – European Union countries have reached an agreement on how to regulate Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, declining to give details on the compromise. “Regarding the gas directive, we have reached an agr... More »

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German authorities probe potential Huawei security risks: Funke

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s federal cybersecurity agency is investigating whether China’s Huawei Technologies could be a security threat after warnings from other countries, the Funke group of newspapers reported on Friday, citing Economy Minister Peter Altma... More »

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In Mosul exhibition, Iraqi artists process brutal rule of Islamic…

MOSUL, Iraq(Reuters) – A raven perched on the shoulder of a woman with flaming hair is Iraqi artist Marwan Fathi’s symbol for the terrible events he and his home city Mosul have had to endure. Three years under the oppressive and violent rule of Islamic State ... More »

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Explainer: Who is behind the Philippine church bombings?

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippines security forces investigating a deadly twin bombing at a church on a predominantly Muslim southern island are zeroing in on what they say is an affiliate of the militant Abu Sayyaf Group. Twenty people were killed and more than 1... More »

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As West turns on him, Venezuela’s Maduro flexes military muscle

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro oversaw a display of the army’s Russian hardware on Sunday, with anti-aircraft flak and tank rounds pounding a hillside to show military force and loyalty in the face of an international ultimatum for new... More »

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French army to help in effort to stop swine fever at Belgian border

PARIS (Reuters) – The French army will provide logistical support to hunters tasked with culling wild boar in a border zone next to Belgium, as France tries to prevent an outbreak of a virulent swine disease, its agriculture minister said on Friday. France has... More »

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Dassault wins French contract to upgrade the Rafale fighter

PARIS/BERLIN (Reuters) – France’s Dassault Aviation said on Monday it had received a contract from the French government to update the Rafale fighter jet as plans simultaneously gather speed for a longer-term project to build a Franco-German successor. The so-... More »

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Government shutdown breaks record, with no end in sight

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A partial U.S. government shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border entered its 22nd day on Saturday, making it the longest shuttering of federal agencies in U.S. history,... More »

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House Democrats eye reported FBI probe of Trump

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. House of Representatives committee will look into a newspaper report that the FBI investigated whether President Donald Trump has been working on behalf of Russia, against U.S. interests, the panel’s Democratic chairman said on Sa... More »

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Microsoft wins $1.76 billion defense contract: Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has been awarded a five-year contract worth $1.76 billion for delivering enterprise services for the Defense Department, Coast Guard and intelligence services, the Pentagon said on Friday. Source: https://www.reut... More »

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Train believed to be carrying North Korea’s Kim leaves Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters) – A train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left a station in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, a Reuters witness said. Kim was invited to Beijing by Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China amid negotiations for a se... More »

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Explainer: Trump risks legal fight with emergency threat on wall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump would almost certainly face a legal challenge if he makes good on his threat to get funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall by declaring a national emergency and circumventing Congress’s purse-strings power. Legal sc... More »

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China probe readies to land on dark side of the moon: Xinhua

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A Chinese space probe is moving into position to land on the dark side of the moon for the first time, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, a mission seen as an important step as the country looks to push forward its space p... More »

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Taliban seek image makeover as Afghan peace talks gain momentum

KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – As moves toward peace pick up in Afghanistan, the Taliban are trying to show they have changed since the brutal days of the 1990s when they banned music and girls’ education and carried out public executions in Kabul’s foot... More »

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Syrian army enters town of Manbij and raises flag – statement

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army entered Manbij on Friday for the first time in years, it said in a statement, after the Kurdish YPG militia urged the government of President Bashar al-Assad to protect the town from Turkish attacks. The army said it would gu... More »

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Mexico says military to play larger role in fighting fuel theft

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s government unveiled a plan on Thursday to step up use of the armed forces to combat fuel theft, vowing to root out corrupt officials it says are largely responsible for a problem that has cost the country billions of dollars. P... More »

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How partial shutdown of U.S. government could play out

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A partial U.S. government shutdown was widely expected to continue after Congress reconvenes on Thursday, with lawmakers split over President Donald Trump’s demand for $5 billion in taxpayer funding for a proposed Mexican border wall. Th... More »

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SpaceX launches first U.S. national security space mission

(Reuters) – A SpaceX rocket carrying a U.S. military navigation satellite blasted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on Sunday, marking the space transportation company’s first national security space mission for the United States. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying ... More »

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Spacex halts launch of U.S. military satellite due to winds

(Reuters) – Elon Musk’s SpaceX scrapped Saturday’s launch of a long-delayed navigation satellite for the U.S. military due to strong upper level winds. The next launch attempt will be on Sunday at 8:51 a.m. EST/ 13:51 UTC, according to Space X officials. The l... More »

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Russian fighter jets land in Crimea amid Ukraine tensions

BELBEK, Crimea (Reuters) – More than a dozen SU-27 and SU-30 fighter jets which Russia is deploying to boost its air force, amid heightened tensions with Ukraine, arrived in Crimea on Saturday. A Reuters witness saw the jets land at Belbek air base in Crimea, ... More »

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Trump hopes partial shutdown of government will not last long

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a partial shutdown of the government would hopefully not last long, after Republican senators failed to muster the votes needed to approve a funding measure that included $5 billion for a b... More »

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Factbox: Outgoing Pentagon chief Mattis was often at odds with Trump

(Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will quit in February after falling out with Donald Trump over the president’s foreign policies, including the surprise decision this week to pull troops out of Syria and plan a drawdown in Afghanistan. Mattis, a r... More »

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In Mattis resignation, a singular challenge to Trump’s agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – By plainly stating his policy differences in his resignation letter, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has sparked an incipient challenge to President Donald Trump’s foreign and security agenda that sets his departure apart from scores o... More »

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U.S. to help South Korea get flu drugs to North despite stalled…

SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States has agreed to help South Korea send flu medication to North Korea, a South Korean official said on Friday, after the United States said it would help deliver aid to the North despite stalled nuclear talks. North Korean leade... More »

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SpaceX says weather forces cancellation of launch of U.S. satellite

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Spacex said on Thursday that poor weather conditions forced the cancellation of a scheduled morning launch of its Falcon 9 rocket that was to carry a global positioning system (GPS) satellite into space for the U.S. Air Force. The company ... More »

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SpaceX cancels first U.S. national security mission

(Reuters) – Elon Musk’s SpaceX halted on Wednesday the long-delayed launch of a navigation satellite for the U.S. military, failing to complete its first designated national security mission for the United States due to a technical issue with its rocket. Space... More »

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SpaceX halts U.S. satellite launch for national security mission

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) – Elon Musk’s SpaceX halted Tuesday’s launch of a long-delayed navigation satellite for the U.S. military, postponing for at least a day the space transportation company’s first designated national security mission for the United States... More »

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EU leaders arrive for second day of summit dominated by Brexit

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders arrive in Brussels for a second day of day of talks on Brexit, the euro zone, migration and Russia, among others. Below are some of their comments made on arrival. AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR SEBASTIAN KURZ “I think it was g... More »

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Highlights: EU leaders arrive for two-day summit dominated by Brexit

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders arrive in Brussels for two days of talks on Brexit, the euro zone, migration and Russia, among others. Below are some of their comments made on arrival. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON “We can have a political discu... More »

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Iran can expand range of ballistic missiles: Guards commander

GENEVA (Reuters) – Iran has the ability to build ballistic missiles with a broader range, a senior commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Monday, according to the semi-official Fars News agency. Iran’s missiles currently cover a range of 2000 kilo... More »

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Hitachi shares rise after report it is considering scrapping…

TOKYO (Reuters) – Hitachi Ltd (6501.T) shares rose as much as 2.9 percent on Monday after Japan’s TV Asahi reported the firm is considering scrapping its 3 trillion yen ($26.61 billion) nuclear project in Britain due to projections of further increases in cons... More »

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Factbox: Trump administration departures, resignations and firings

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Saturday that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly will leave his job at the end of the year, extending the historically high turnover in the top ranks of his administration. On Friday, Trump announced a n... More »

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China launches probe to explore dark side of Moon: Xinhua

BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Saturday launched a first probe ever to explore the dark side of the Moon, marking another milestone in its ambitious space program, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The probe, the Chang’e-4, is expected to make the first-... More »

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Russia launches first manned voyage to ISS since rocket accident

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan (Reuters) – A Russian-made Soyuz rocket blasted a three-man crew into orbit on Monday, beginning the first manned voyage to the International Space Station since a mission in October was aborted in midair because of a rocket mal... More »

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Pompeo condemns Iran missile test

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday condemned what he described as Iran’s testing of a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads as a violation of the international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear pro... More »

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Trump seeks to revive ‘Arab NATO’ to confront Iran

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration is quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran’s expansion in the region, according to U.S. and Arab offic... More »

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Lebanese army kills suspected drug dealer, seven others in raid:…

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese army killed a suspected drug dealer and seven others during a raid in northeast Lebanon on Monday, the army said. During the raid, which took place near the town of Brital, not far from the border with Syria, soldiers were fired... More »