Russia says most U.N. aid in Syria going to rebel-held areas
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian Foreign Ministry complained on Wednesday that the issue of humanitarian aid in Syria was becoming increasingly politicized and said most U.N. help was going to areas controlled by anti-government rebels.
Russia says trying to set up meeting between Kerry and Lavrov in Rome: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that preparations were being made for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to meet in Rome, the RIA news agency reported.
Syrian army say Israeli jets mount raid from Lebanese air space
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army said Israeli jets fired two missiles on an area west of the capital of Damascus on Wednesday morning, causing no casualties in an attack mounted from Lebanese air space.
ECB’s Draghi: populism has weakened European integration
MADRID (Reuters) – The spread of populist movements is threatening European integration and efforts to find joint responses to immigration, security and other shared concerns, ECB President Mario Draghi said in an interview published on Wednesday.
Vietnam upholds 20-month jail term for land grab protester
HANOI (Reuters) – A high-profile Vietnamese activist on Wednesday lost a bid to overturn a 20-month jail term for protesting against illegal land grabs, her lawyer said, after a judge upheld a lower court ruling that had outraged human rights groups.
Russia says it hopes Aleppo situation can be resolved by year-end: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Wednesday he hoped that the situation in Syria’s Aleppo could be sorted out by the end of this year, the RIA news agency cited him as saying.
Data leak on Europol terror group investigations: Dutch TV
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Information on numerous international investigations into terrorism groups compiled by Europol was accidentally left online, unguarded by any password, a Dutch television programme reported on Wednesday.
For Mosul perfume trader, militants meant business
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – When Islamic State fighters came to Hamza Samih’s perfume shop in Mosul they issued two orders – get rid of the perfumes and colorful bras they said were unholy, and set up separate doors for men and women.
Australian Senate gives PM milestone victory, then defeat
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull secured the passage of some cornerstone legislation on Wednesday but quickly suffered an embarrassing defeat of a government plan for a lower “backpacker tax” on work done by young, foreign …
After Castro’s death, attention turns to Cuba’s heir apparent
HAVANA (Reuters) – With revolutionary leader Fidel Castro dead and his brother Raul vowing to step down as president in 15 months, it will soon be the hour of heir apparent Miguel Diaz-Canel, an advocate for modernizing Cuba’s state-run media and abysm…
