Document lays out ‘Democratic Federalism’ for Syrian north
RMEILAN, Syria (Reuters) – A conference underway in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria on Wednesday aims to approve a “Federal Democratic” system of government for the area and envisions the failure of U.N.-led peace talks in Geneva, according to a docu…
Russia’s Lavrov says agrees to try to resume flights with Egypt in shortest time
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday at talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry that they had agreed to make efforts on resuming direct flights between Russia and Egypt in the shortest possible period o…
Bomb on bus kills 15 government employees in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – A bomb on a bus carrying government employees in the Pakistani city of Peshawar killed 15 people on Wednesday, officials said, and a militant group claimed responsibility, saying it was revenge for death sentences passed …
Pakistani court lifts travel ban on former military ruler Musharraf
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to leave the country while awaiting trial for treason and other charges.
Egypt president vows to find and punish killers of Italian student
ROME (Reuters) – Egypt will spare no effort to find and punish those who tortured and killed an Italian student in Cairo, the country’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said an interview published on Wednesday.
EU must not let Cyprus spoil migrant deal, says Turkish minister
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The European Union must not allow the “caprice” of Cyprus to spoil a planned migrant deal with Turkey, the Turkish EU minister said on Wednesday, after Cyprus vowed to block efforts to speed up Ankara’s accession talks.
Australia, Indonesia renew push for trade deal amid warming ties
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia and Indonesia on Wednesday said they would formally resume long-stalled negotiations aimed at sealing a bilateral trade agreement between the often uneasy neighbors within 18 months.
Japan ruling party considers international arbitration over China dispute
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling party urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government on Wednesday to consider seeking international arbitration over Beijing’s drilling activities in the disputed East China Sea, mirroring similar action by the Philippine…
Austria wants to help Macedonia keep border shut, Die Welt reports
BERLIN (Reuters) – Austria will supply equipment to help Macedonia keep its border closed and Europe’s main migrant route blocked, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Drive for EU membership could help pull a fractured Bosnia together
TUZLA, Bosnia (Reuters) – Bosnian membership in the European Union might not seem a realistic, or even desirable, goal, but boosters of the idea say working towards joining may be the only way the country can pull itself together 20 years after its dev…
