Azerbaijan’s Aliyev wins fourth term as president
BAKU (Reuters) – Ilham Aliyev won a fourth term as president of Azerbaijan on Wednesday in an election boycotted by major opposition parties, who accused him of authoritarian rule and suppressing political dissent.
In call with Saudi king, Trump demanded quick end to Gulf rift: U.S. officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a telephone call this month with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, President Donald Trump demanded that the kingdom and its Arab partners quickly end a nearly year-old dispute with Qatar that has left U.S. allies in the region fract…
Daughter of poisoned Russian spy declines embassy help: statement
LONDON (Reuters) – Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in Britain last month along with her father, a former Russian spy, said on Wednesday she did not wish to take up the offer of services from the Russian Embassy in London.
Pope acknowledges his ‘serious mistakes’ in Chile sexual abuse crisis
SANTIAGO/VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis acknowledged on Wednesday that he had made “serious mistakes in judgment and perception” of the sexual abuse crisis in Chile, and would meet with victims and bishops in an attempt to heal wounds the scanda…
Netanyahu uses Holocaust event to urge action against Syria, Iran
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a speech at Israel’s annual Holocaust commemorations on Wednesday to call for action against Syria following a suspected poison gas attack.
Pope says may summon Chile bishops for meeting on sex abuse crisis
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Pope Francis said in a letter on Wednesday he may summon Chile bishops to Rome for a meeting on the sexual abuse crisis in the South American country.
EU looks to resolve ‘very soon’ row with Poland over rule of law
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s executive on Wednesday said it hoped for a deal “very soon” in a fundamental dispute with Poland over judicial independence and sources said mid-May could be a key date.
Trump signals strikes against Syria, lays into Assad backer Russia
WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia on Wednesday of imminent military action in Syria over a suspected poison gas attack, declaring that missiles “will be coming” and lambasting Moscow for standing by Syrian Presiden…
Bangladesh, UNHCR to ink preliminary plan on Rohingya repatriation
DHAKA/GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations refugee agency is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh laying out a framework for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, an agency spokesman said on Wednesday.
Saudi says it shot down Houthi missiles over Riyadh and southern cities
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and other cities on Wednesday by Yemen’s Houthis who have stepped up attacks recently, threatening to escalate a rivalry between Saudi Arabia and …
