After 40 days on foot, Turkmens flee fighting in Iraq to reach Turkey
HATAY, Turkey (Reuters) – After trudging for 40 days through the bitter cold and sometimes difficult terrain of northern Iraq, Ahmet Ali Bekir reached Turkey, one of 1,500 Turkmens to arrive in the last two days after fleeing deadly fighting near home….
Russian embassy in Damascus shelled twice: statement
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian embassy in Syrian capital of Damascus was shelled twice on Wednesday afternoon, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling it a provocation aimed at derailing peace settlement in the country.
Detained Bahraini activist freed and immediately re-arrested
DOHA (Reuters) – A leading Bahraini human rights activist who is on trial for tweets alleging rights abuses was to be freed on bail on Wednesday after months in detention, but was immediately re-arrested in a separate case.
Israel postpones vote on new East Jerusalem homes before Kerry speech
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel pulled back from approving hundreds of new homes for Israelis in annexed East Jerusalem on Wednesday before a speech in which the U.S. Secretary of State was to give further voice to international opposition to settlement b…
Strong earthquake hits Japan, no tsunami warning
TOKYO (Reuters) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 hit eastern Japan on Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding no tsunami warning was issued.
Russia, Turkey, Iran eye dicing Syria into zones of influence
MOSCOW/ANKARA (Reuters) – Syria would be divided into informal zones of regional power influence and Bashar al-Assad would remain president for at least a few years under an outline deal between Russia, Turkey and Iran, sources say.
Greece vows to improve conditions in overcrowded migrant camps
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece, a frontline country for migrants fleeing to Europe from war and poverty, vowed on Wednesday to improve living conditions in its overcrowded island camps.
Britain cracks down on illegal nail-salon workers in fight against modern slavery
LONDON (Reuters) – British immigration officers have raided nearly 300 nail salons and arrested 97 people, mostly from Vietnam, for suspected immigration offences as part of a drive to tackle modern slavery, the Home Office said on Wednesday.
Manila residents speak out about Duterte’s war on drugs
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte completes six months in charge on Friday, with the rising death toll from his war on drugs showing no sign of easing.
Indian train derails injuring 61; latest crash to raise concern
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A train derailed in India on Wednesday injuring 61 people, police and rail officials said, the third significant accident in recent months that have raised concern about the safety of the ageing rail network.
