Syrian government forces make new eastern Ghouta advance: Observatory
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces took almost complete control of the town of al-Shayfouniya in eastern Ghouta near Damascus on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, pressing an assault into the last rebel stronghold near th…
Countdown to coalition? Germany’s SPD counts ballots
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) were preparing on Saturday to count the votes of hundreds of thousands of party members who will decide if a new coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel will take office more than four months after a…
Turkish warplanes hit pro-Syrian government forces in Afrin, kill 36: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Turkish warplanes struck pro-Syrian government forces in the northwestern Afrin region of Syria on Saturday, killing at least 36 of them, as Turkey’s assault in the Kurdish region gathered pace, the Syrian Observatory for Human Right…
India’s ruling party emerges stronger after polls in northeast
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Saturday consolidated its position in the country’s northeast after a landslide election victory in Tripura, ending 25 years of communist rule in the state.
North Korea threatens to ‘counter’ U.S. over military drills
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea threatened on Saturday to “counter the U.S.” if the United States holds joint military exercises with South Korea, and said it would not beg for talks with Washington.
Hardliners give cautious welcome to May’s Brexit vision
LONDON (Reuters) – The head of a hardline group of pro-Brexit lawmakers on Saturday gave a cautious welcome to Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for Britain’s future ties with Europe, saying now was not the time to nitpick.
Iran calls on U.S., Europe to scrap nuclear arms, missiles
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran will not negotiate over its ballistic missiles until the United States and Europe dismantle their nuclear weapons, a top Iranian military official said on Saturday, keeping up the Islamic republic’s tough stance on the issue.
Malaysia says new search for flight MH370 to end mid-June
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A search by a U.S. firm for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to complete its survey by mid-June, the Southeast Asian nation said on Saturday, as families marked the fourth anniversary of one of aviation’s grea…
Putin tells U.S. to send evidence of vote meddling
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told Washington to send him hard evidence that his citizens meddled in U.S. elections, mocking accusations to date as “yelling and hollering in the United States Congress”.
Ten injured in clashes as police break up protest camp in Ukraine
KIEV (Reuters) – At least 10 people were injured in clashes between Ukrainian police and anti-government protesters in Kiev on Saturday, when officers began removing a protest camp near parliament.
