Kremlin says U.S. diplomatic help on Syria insufficient
MOSCOW (Reuters) – U.S. support for the process of stabilizing Syria has been inadequate, the Kremlin spokesman Dmtiry Peskov said on Monday.
Giving up control of Brussels mosque, Saudi Arabia sends a signal
BRUSSELS/RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has agreed to give up control of Belgium’s largest mosque in a sign that it is trying to shed its reputation as a global exporter of an ultra-conservative brand of Islam.
Philippines may turn to China, Russia after scrapping Canada helicopter deal
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines may turn to non-Western defense manufacturers, including China and Russia, to acquire 16 helicopters after it had to scrap a $233 million deal with Canada, its defense minister said on Monday.
Russia, Turkey and Iran discuss meeting on Syria in Kazakhstan – TASS
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday that Russia, Turkey and Iran had discussed a possible meeting of their foreign ministers on Syria, which could be held in Kazakhstan’s Astana in March, the TASS news age…
Ahead of Lunar New Year, China’s Xi says will banish ‘ghost’ of poverty
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will banish the “ghosts” of poverty, Chinese President Xi Jinping told villagers in a poor southwestern part of the country during a traditional visit to outlying regions before the Lunar New Year.
Pence raises prospect of talks with North Korea amid ‘intensified’ pressure
SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States may be looking more favorably at diplomatic engagement with North Korea, possibly holding dialogue, as South Korea pushes forward with plans to establish grounds for a rare summit between the two Koreas.
Taliban infiltrator kills 16 Afghan government militiamen
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A Taliban infiltrator killed 16 members of a pro-government militia force in the insurgency ridden southern province of Helmand when he turned his gun on men who he had worked with for months, officials said on Mond…
Russia hunts for body fragments, clues after fatal plane crash
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Hundreds of emergency workers in Russia scoured snow-covered fields outside Moscow on Monday, collecting body fragments and clues after a plane crash a day earlier that killed all 71 people on board.
Iraq’s reconstruction will cost $88.2 billion, planning ministry says
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Rebuilding Iraq after years of war and economic turmoil will cost $88.2 billion, the director-general of the country’s planning ministry, Qusay Abdulfattah, told an international conference in Kuwait on Monday.
London City Airport shut throughout Monday after WW2 bomb found in Thames
(Reuters) – All flights to and from London’s City Airport were canceled on Monday after an unexploded World War Two bomb was discovered in the River Thames at George V Dock, the airport said.
