U.S. retaliates against Russia, orders closure of consulate, annexes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has told Russia to close its consulate in San Francisco and buildings in Washington and New York that house trade missions, the State Department said on Thursday, in retaliation for Moscow cutting the U.S. diplomatic presence in Russia.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-russia-diplomacy/u-s-retaliates-against-russia-orders-closure-of-consulate-annexes-idUKKCN1BB2I5?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

ECB to announce quantitative easing cutback in October; shut programme by end-2018 - Reuters poll

BENGALURU (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is likely to announce a reduction of its monthly asset purchases in October, according to a majority of economists in a Reuters poll, who also said they expect the central bank to shut down the programme by the end of next year.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ecb-policy-poll/ecb-to-announce-quantitative-easing-cutback-in-october-shut-programme-by-end-2018-reuters-poll-idUKKCN1BC3VB?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Nearly 400 die as Myanmar army steps up crackdown on Rohingya militants

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Nearly 400 people have died in fighting that has rocked Myanmar's northwest for a week, new official data show, making it probably the deadliest bout of violence to engulf the country's Rohingya Muslim minority in decades.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-myanmar-rohingya/nearly-400-die-as-myanmar-army-steps-up-crackdown-on-rohingya-militants-idUKKCN1BC3T7?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Britain says it cannot be blackmailed by EU over exit bill

TOKYO (Reuters) - British trade minister Liam Fox said on Friday Britain would not be blackmailed into agreeing on the cost of leaving the European Union, and urged Brussels to move negotiations on to discuss Britain's future relationship with the bloc.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-fox/britain-says-it-cannot-be-blackmailed-by-eu-over-exit-bill-idUKKCN1BC3PE?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

EU keeps up Brexit talks pressure, Davis signals cash offer

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain's withdrawal negotiations with the European Union failed to make the kind of progress needed to move into a new phase in October, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday after four days of talks.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-negotiations/eu-keeps-up-brexit-talks-pressure-davis-signals-cash-offer-idUKKCN1BB0TA?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Northern Ireland's DUP warns of 'speedy' return to rule by London

BELFAST (Reuters) - Irish nationalists Sinn Fein must reach out and compromise if Northern Ireland is to avoid a "speedy" return to direct rule from London, the head of the Democratic Unionist Party said on Thursday.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-nireland-talks/northern-irelands-dup-warns-of-speedy-return-to-rule-by-london-idUKKCN1BB2S8?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Britain 'going backwards' on rights of disabled, says U.N. committee

GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Committee on the rights of disabled people said on Thursday it had more concerns about Britain - due to funding cuts, restricted rights and an uncertain post-Brexit future - than any other country in its 10-year history.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-disabled/britain-going-backwards-on-rights-of-disabled-says-u-n-committee-idUKKCN1BB2AU?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

U.S. bombers drill over Korean peninsula after latest North Korea launch

SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - South Korean and Japanese jets joined exercises with two supersonic U.S. B-1B bombers above and near the Korean peninsula on Thursday, two days after North Korea sharply raised tension by firing a missile over Japan.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-northkorea-missiles/u-s-bombers-drill-over-korean-peninsula-after-latest-north-korea-launch-idUKKCN1B8281?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Texas city loses water, 44 dead, but thousands of Harvey survivors rescued

PORT ARTHUR, Texas (Reuters) - A flood-hit southeast Texas city lost its drinking water supply and police and soldiers rescued thousands still stranded on Thursday after powerful storm Harvey killed 44 people and displaced more than a million on the Gulf Coast.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-storm-harvey/texas-city-loses-water-44-dead-but-thousands-of-harvey-survivors-rescued-idUKKCN1B50G4?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Jails, justice system at breaking point as Philippine drugs war intensifies

MANILA Reuters) - In a teeming prison for undertrials in the Philippines' capital Manila, Rody Lacanilao, an inmate for 18 months, says he prays for clear weather at night.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-philippines-justice/jails-justice-system-at-breaking-point-as-philippine-drugs-war-intensifies-idUKKCN1BB38H?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

As reality of Trump risk sinks in, Tokyo tries to keep ties tight

TOKYO (Reuters) - Six months after Japan's premier bonded with Donald Trump on a golf course amid hopes he'd be a pragmatic partner, a consensus is emerging that Tokyo must reduce risks from the unpredictable president by forging ties with his more mainstream advisers.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-japan-usa-diplomacy/as-reality-of-trump-risk-sinks-in-tokyo-tries-to-keep-ties-tight-idUKKCN1BB1BY?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Vietnam protests over Chinese military drill in South China Sea

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam on Thursday opposed what it called a Chinese announcement of military exercises in the disputed South China Sea, disagreements over which have pushed tension between the neighbours to its highest in three years.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-southchinasea-vietnam-china/vietnam-protests-over-chinese-military-drill-in-south-china-sea-idUKKCN1BB2C7?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Iraqi prime minister declares victory over IS in Tal Afar

ERBIL, Iraq/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Hayder al-Abadi declared victory over Islamic State militants in Tal Afar and the entire province of Nineveh on Thursday, despite continued fighting in the small town of al-'Ayadiya.

from Reuters: Top News http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-iraq-talafar/iraqi-prime-minister-declares-victory-over-is-in-tal-afar-idUKKCN1BB1HH?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews