Russia underplayed losses in recapture of Syria’s Palmyra
GELENDZHIK, Russia (Reuters) – Russia’s force in Syria has suffered losses since late January more than three times higher than the official toll, according to evidence gathered by Reuters, a tally that shows the fight in Syria is tougher and more cost…
France’s Fillon says government is behind media leaks against him
PARIS (Reuters) – Right-wing presidential candidate Francois Fillon, hit by new damaging disclosures, accused the Socialist government on Wednesday of organizing a campaign of media leaks about his financial affairs to neutralize him as a force in the …
China denies reports of building on disputed shoal
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied reports that China will begin preparatory work this year for an environmental monitoring station on disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Air strike kills more than 30 near Raqqa, Syrian Observatory says
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An air strike that hit a school sheltering displaced people near the Islamic-State held Syrian city of Raqqa killed at least 33 people, a group that monitors the war said on Wednesday.
Blasts kill four, injure 18 in northeastern Nigeria, police say
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Multiple blasts at camps for people who have fled the Islamist militants Boko Haram killed four and injured 18 in the northeastern Nigeria city of Maiduguri, the state police commissioner said on Wednesday.
Merkel’s conservatives extend lead in Germany’s Forsa poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives was up 1 percentage point at 34 percent, widening their lead over the Social Democrats (SPD) who were down one point at 31 percent, a Forsa poll showed on Wednesday, with si…
Australia’s Rinehart children cleared to sue billionaire mother
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The children of mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, have been cleared by a court to sue their mother for what they describe as mismanagement of a multi-billion dollar family trust, in a long-running famil…
Japanese navy boosts overseas force projection capability with second big helicopter carrier
YOKOHAMA (Reuters) – Japan’s second big helicopter carrier, the Kaga, entered service on Wednesday, giving the nation’s military greater ability to deploy beyond its shores as it pushes back against China’s growing influence in Asia.
Tillerson pledges safe areas for refugees, more pressure on Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States would set up “interim zones of stability” to help refugees return home in the next phase of the fight against Islamic State and al Qaeda in Syria and Iraq.
Mexico warns firms not in their interest to build border wall
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s government on Tuesday warned Mexican companies that it would not be in their best “interests” to participate in the construction of U.S. President Donald Trump’s border wall, though there will be no legal restrictions o…
