Berlusconi’s party crumbling as defections in Italy mount
ROME (Reuters) – Forza Italia, the center-right party of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, was hit by a wave of desertions on Wednesday, raising questions about its political future.
New Greek government gets off to bumpy start, with a row over tweets
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’ newly elected government hit its first setback hours after it was sworn in on Wednesday, in a row over whether a junior minister had posted offensive tweets online.
Syria says would welcome Russian army base in Latakia: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Syrian ambassador in Moscow said on Wednesday Damascus would welcome the deployment of a Russian military base in the city of Latakia (Lattakia) if Moscow decides to build one there, Interfax news agency reported.
U.S., rebutting Kremlin, says no change in Syria position
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday the United States was increasingly receptive toward Moscow’s position on the conflict in Syria, an assertion quickly disputed by Washington.
EU to challenge Germany over pilot licensing after Germanwings crash: source
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission is poised to launch a legal challenge against Germany’s air safety authorities and in particular its system for renewing pilots’ licenses, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Sharp increase in migrant arrivals on Greece’s Lesbos island
LESBOS, Greece (Reuters) – More than 2,500 mainly Syrian and Afghan refugees, soaked and exhausted, reached the Greek island of Lesbos within hours on Wednesday, a sharp rise in the rate of arrivals via the dangerous sea crossing from Turkey.
Russia plans second big military base near Ukrainian border
BOGUCHAR, Russia (Reuters) – Russia is planning a second major military base near the border with Ukraine, where NATO accuses Russian troops of helping pro-Moscow separatists fight Kiev’s forces.
Insurgent group pledges allegiance to al Qaeda’s Syria wing
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An insurgent group fighting in Syria made up of around 1,500 Chechen, Uzbek and Tajik fighters has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda’s Syria wing Nusra Front, a group monitoring the war said on Wednesday.
France urges Saudi Arabia to cancel death penalty for young Shi’ite
PARIS (Reuters) – France called on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday not to execute a Shi’ite Muslim sentenced to death over his role in anti-government protests, saying he was a minor when he was arrested.
Putin opens Moscow’s largest mosque, warns against extremists
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin opened Moscow’s new grand mosque on Wednesday, urging Russia’s Islamic leaders to stand against extremism at a time when some 2,400 Russians are fighting with Islamic State in the Middle East.
