U.S. commander downplays chance of big Iraq, Syria troop hike
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top U.S. commander in Iraq on Wednesday downplayed the chances that the United States would deploy a large number of additional coalition forces to battle the Islamic State, even as President Donald Trump weighs options to sp…
Both Syrian sides see gains in peace talks as Russia weighs in
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian peace talks in Geneva edged forwards on Wednesday, for the first time in six days of U.N.-led talks, as both sides saw hope of shaping the agenda to their liking and opposition negotiators met a senior diplomat from powerbroke…
Israeli settler shoots, kills knife-wielding Palestinian assailant
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday shot and killed a knife-wielding Palestinian assailant who broke into his home and stabbed him, the Israeli military said.
Juncker launches post-Brexit EU reform proposals
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday presented options for reforming the bloc to shore up its unity and popular support after Britain’s shock decision to withdraw.
Bulgaria’s caretaker government eyes access to euro ‘waiting room’
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s interim Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov said on Wednesday his government wanted to apply formally to join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-2), commonly known as the euro “waiting room”, before it hands over power.
Syrian government forces enter Palmyra, drive back Islamic State: monitors
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Russian-backed Syrian government forces and their allies fought their way into Palmyra on Wednesday, driving back Islamic State militants who have held the historic city since December, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor…
U.S.-allied militia agrees to hand villages to Syrian govt
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.S.-allied militia in northern Syria said on Thursday it would hand over villages on a front line where it has been fighting Turkish-backed rebels to Syrian government control, under an agreement with Russia.
New Syrian peace talks planned for March 14 in Kazakhstan : agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syrian peace talks involving the armed opposition and Russia, Iran and Turkey are scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan on March 14, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing a source close to the talks.
Brexit battle lines drawn as UK readies divorce papers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brexit’s phony war is about to become real. It may get bloody.
Iran, Turkey presidents meet to defuse tensions
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Wednesday to improve ties, including in the fight against terrorism, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said, following some angry exchanges between the regio…
