Bomber in Istanbul attack came from Syria: Turkish foreign minister
ANKARA (Reuters) – One of the two suicide bombers in an attack on an Istanbul soccer stadium last weekend had come from Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.
Germany deports 50 rejected Afghan asylum seekers
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany has carried out its first group deportation of Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected, in line with an agreement reached with Kabul earlier this year.
Egypt freezes assets of media company chairman
CAIRO (Reuters) – The chairman of two independent Egyptian newspapers, including one of the country’s only English-language papers, said on Wednesday that the company’s assets were frozen for alleged ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, a charge he…
Venezuela power clash resumes after Vatican-led talks falter
CARACAS (Reuters) – Political conflict between Venezuela’s opposition-run legislature and socialist government flared again on Wednesday after the breakdown of Vatican-led talks, as each side moved to appoint its own members to the national election bo…
Russia blocks U.N. council bid to thank Ban Ki-moon for gay rights work
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia prevented the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday from thanking outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon specifically for promoting gay rights during his decade in office, diplomats said.
Baltic states urge strong U.S. defense commitment to region
TALLINN (Reuters) – The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia renewed their call on Wednesday for a strong U.S. engagement in the Baltic region amid concerns over the attitude of the incoming Trump administration.
Brazil’s Temer loses top aide due to graft allegations
BRASILIA (Reuters) – One of Brazilian President Michel Temer’s closest aides resigned on Wednesday following allegations he had received graft money from engineering conglomerate Odebrecht in a widening corruption scandal that is besieging the governme…
Fall of Aleppo puts Iran on cusp of ‘Shi’ite crescent’ of influence
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran has played a pivotal role in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s campaign to crush rebel resistance in Aleppo and is now close to establishing a “Shi’ite crescent” of regional influence stretching from the Afghan border to the Me…
EU leaders to endorse Dutch demands on Ukraine: sources
BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – European Union leaders, anxious to preserve a landmark cooperation agreement with Ukraine, will address Dutch concerns on Thursday by saying the deal does not give Kiev the status of a candidate for membership of the bloc…
UK will trigger Article 50 earlier than end of March if can: Brexit minister
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will begin formal divorce talks with the European Union earlier than the end of March if it can, Brexit minister David Davis said on Wednesday.
