Migrant woman and two children drown off Greek island of Lesbos
ATHENS (Reuters) – A migrant woman and two children drowned on Wednesday when a boat carrying about two dozen people capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos, the Greek coastguard said.
Islamic State battles insurgents as Syria army prepares assault
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants battled rival insurgent groups on Wednesday north of the city of Aleppo, where officials say the Syrian army is preparing an offensive of its own backed by Iranian soldiers and Russian jets.
Lavrov says Russia helping fight against militants in Iraq
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday Moscow was helping the fight against Islamist insurgents in Iraq with the consent of the Baghdad government.
U.S. okays $495 million sale of Sikorsky helicopters to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government has approved the possible sale to Saudi Arabia of nine UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp, in a deal valued at $495 million, the Pentagon said on Wedne…
Russia, U.S. move closer on air-to-air conduct document over Syria: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia and the United States have moved closer to agreement on a document setting rules for how to keep U.S. and Russian aircraft from clashing over Syria, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the Russian Defense Minist…
Obama sends U.S. troops, drones to Cameroon in anti-Boko Haram fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is sending 300 U.S. troops, along with surveillance drones, to Cameroon to bolster a West African effort to counter the Nigerian militant Islamist group Boko Haram, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Turkish PM sees Islamic State or PKK links to Ankara bombing
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Reuters on Wednesday some of the suspects in suicide bombings that killed 97 people in Ankara had spent months in Syria and that they could be linked to Islamic State or to Kurdish milita…
EU competition chief postpones trip to China
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe’s antitrust chief has postponed a two-day official visit to Beijing to deal with pressing issues in Brussels, her spokesman said on Wednesday.
Germany open to including Turkey on EU list of ‘safe countries’: official
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government is willing to support an EU proposal to put Turkey on a list of “safe countries” whose citizens have little chance of being granted asylum in Europe, a senior official in Berlin told Reuters on Wednesday.
Armed groups, parties boycott Central African Republic talks
BANGUI (Reuters) – Armed groups and politicians in Central African Republic boycotted the start of a political forum this week, dealing a blow to attempts to get an election process back on track.
