Syrian government gains ground on second day of Russian truce: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and allied militias gained ground on Wednesday in clashes with rebels in eastern Ghouta near Damascus as fighting raged despite a Russian ceasefire plan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
China Xi’s expansive agenda gets boost with move to end term limits
BEIJING (Reuters) – In clearing the way to serve as Chinese president indefinitely, Xi Jinping has sought to head off speculation over his future and amass even more authority to implement his key political objectives, analysts and sources close to the…
South Korea says complains to Chinese ambassador about military jet in its airspace
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea summoned the Chinese ambassador on Tuesday to lodge a complaint over a Chinese military aircraft entering the South’s air defence territory, the second such incident this year, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Iraq open to business, including with Rosneft, foreign minister says
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Baghdad is open to business with any company interested in supporting the country, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari said in Moscow on Wednesday, answering a question about the activities of Russia’s Rosneft in the region.
Britain’s Johnson says Northern Irish border issue being used to frustrate Brexit
LONDON (Reuters) – The issue of Northern Ireland’s border with the Republic of Ireland is being used to try and keep Britain in a customs union with the European Union and frustrate Brexit, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.
Cambodia ‘shocked’ by ‘disrespectful’ U.S. aid cut, says democracy intact
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia said on Wednesday it was saddened and shocked by a “disrespectful” U.S. decision to rein back aid programs because of perceived democratic setbacks and defended its record on democracy.
Syrian government forces gain ground in Ghouta: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and allied militias gained ground on Wednesday in clashes with rebels in eastern Ghouta near Damascus as fighting raged despite a Russian ceasefire plan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Jerusalem’s Church of Holy Sepulchre reopens after protest
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and burial, reopened on Wednesday after Israel backtracked on Tuesday from a tax plan and draft property legislation that triggered a three-day p…
Afghanistan’s Ghani offers talks with Taliban ‘without preconditions’
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group on Wednesday as part of a proposed political process that he said could lead to talks aimed at ending more than 16 years of war.
Afghanistan’s Ghani offers peace talks with Taliban ‘without condition’
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered recognition of Taliban insurgents as a legitimate political group on Wednesday as part of a proposed political process that could lead to talks aimed at ending more than 16 years of war.
