Video shows 18 Turks abducted in Baghdad, makes demands on Ankara
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Eighteen Turkish construction workers who were kidnapped in Baghdad last week appeared in a video on Friday, apparently being held by a group that threatened to attack Turkish interests in Iraq unless Ankara met its demands.
New post for Kazakh leader’s daughter sparks fresh succession talk
ASTANA/ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Friday appointed his daughter Dariga as a deputy prime minister, rekindling speculation about who might replace him at the helm of Central Asia’s largest economy.
Four more killed in southern Nepal protests
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – A member of Nepal’s armed police was killed in the southern district of Mahottari on Friday after protesters dragged him out of an ambulance on its way to a hospital and assaulted him, a police official said.
Russia’s Putin to offer help to crisis-hit Tajikistan on visit next week: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Tajikistan next week where he will discuss what Moscow can do to help the Central Asian nation handle a recent bout of violence, the Kremlin’s top foreign policy aide said on Friday.
Turkish PM to stand unopposed to remain leader of ruling party: spokesman
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will stand unopposed for the re-election to the leadership of the ruling AKP when the party holds its congress on Saturday, party spokesman Besir Atalay said on Friday.
Sweden calls in Russian envoy over ‘threats’ about NATO entry
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden has called in Russia’s ambassador to explain comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman who said any Swedish decision to join NATO would have “consequences” that would compel Russia to respond.
Myanmar candidate backs spending splash as opposition eyes election win
BAWLAKHE, Myanmar (Reuters) – A close ally of Myanmar President Thein Sein has backed projects worth tens of thousands of dollars in his constituency, including satellite dishes, water distribution and a soccer competition ahead of Nov. 8 elections, vi…
Afghan Taliban leader sends envoy abroad to win support, unite group
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – The Afghan Taliban’s new leader is wooing powerful figures from the militant movement based in the Middle East who have not yet publicly pledged their support, sources within the group say, as he attempts to stifle a brew…
Gulf-trained Yemen unit joins battle in central province: official
SANAA (Reuters) – A Gulf-trained unit of Yemeni forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has joined the battle in the central energy-producing Marib province for the first time, a senior provincial official said on Friday.
Kremlin says extension of east Ukraine peace deal possible
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France will agree to roll-over a peace deal for eastern Ukraine if it is not fully implemented this year as intended, the Kremlin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said on Friday.
