Putin says Russia backs Free Syrian Army alongside Assad troops
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia is supporting the opposition Free Syrian Army, providing it with air cover, arms and ammunition in joint operations with Syrian troops against Islamist militants.
Syria’s Assad says he will not negotiate with armed groups
BEIRUT/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declared on Friday that he would not negotiate with armed groups, appearing to scupper peace talks that Russia and the United States hope to bring about next month.
U.S. and Russia trade accusations at U.N. over Ukraine conflict
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States and Russia blamed each other on Friday for the continued conflict in Ukraine, with Washington accusing the Kremlin of attempting to suppress public discussion of facts about the nearly two-year-old war.
Turks keeping troops in Iraqi camp, Baghdad turns to U.N.
ISTANBUL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan declared on Friday he would not bow to Iraqi demands he withdraw Turkish troops from a camp close to the Islamic State-held city of Mosul, and Baghdad said it would ask the U.N. Security Council to …
Global climate talks face last hurdles, deal seen in reach
PARIS (Reuters) – French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Friday that an ambitious global climate deal was within reach, though political concessions were still required to get over some last hurdles.
Chile vows to fight on with education reform after court setback
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chile’s center-left government pledged on Friday to continue with its plan to give free university tuition to the poorest students, despite a court ruling that aspects of its education reform bill were unconstitutional.
Brazil attorney general points to legal concerns over impeachment
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s Attorney General Luis Inacio Adams said on Friday he was concerned over the legality of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.
Taliban attack hits Spanish embassy in Kabul, one security officer killed
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban fighters mounted a car bomb attack on a guest house near the Spanish embassy in Kabul on Friday, killing at least one security officer and further dimming any hopes of peace talks with moderate elements of the Islamist insurge…
Swiss arrest two Syrians; traces of explosives in car: media reports
GENEVA (Reuters) – Two Syrian nationals were arrested in Geneva on Friday and traces of explosives were found in their car, the local newspaper Tribune de Geneve and Swiss television said.
Suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber kills 10 in Cameroon
DOUALA/YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed 10 people in Cameroon’s Far North region, military and political sources said, in an attack thought to have been carried out by Boko Haram militants.
