Germany expects refugee numbers to quadruple to record 800,000
BERLIN (Reuters) – The number of asylum-seekers and refugees to Germany will quadruple to a record 800,000 this year compared with last, more than twice as many as the 300,000 new arrivals forecast in January, the government said on Wednesday.
Russia wants Germany, France to pressure Kiev on peace plan
SEVASTOPOL, Crimea (Reuters) – Russia wants the leaders of Germany and France to put more pressure on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to implement a February peace plan for east Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
Libyan guards at main crossing to Egypt stop working
BENGHAZI, Libya/CAIRO (Reuters) – Libya’s regular border security guards have stopped working at the main border crossing to Egypt, officials said on Wednesday, a further breakdown of state authority.
Dutch government defeats no-confidence motion in parliament
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The government of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte easily defeated a vote of no-confidence in parliament on Wednesday called by right-wing opposition politician Geert Wilders.
Russia’s Putin would consider meeting Obama at U.N.
SEVASTOPOL, Crimea (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend next month’s U.N. General Assembly in New York and would “consider constructively” any request for a meeting there with President Barack Obama, Russia’s foreign minister said o…
Free domestic violence hotline launches in Papua New Guinea
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A free hotline offering counseling to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea was launched on Wednesday in response to widespread violence against women and girls.
Saudi-led alliance wins Yemen battles, but peace remains elusive
SANAA/DUBAI (Reuters) – Emirati tanks heave across southern Yemen’s stony wastes and Apache helicopters from a Saudi-led coalition, dubbed “black genies” by local media, rule its skies, helping fighters loyal to the exiled government win the initiative…
Thai police hunt ‘foreign’ man, two others for Bangkok blast
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police said on Wednesday that a suspect captured by CCTV cameras minutes before a bomb exploded at Bangkok’s Erawan shrine was a foreigner, and his appearance suggested he might be from Europe or the Middle East.
Erdogan says Turkey is ‘heading rapidly’ toward new election
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey is heading rapidly toward a new election and only the “will of the people” can break a political deadlock after the ruling AK Party failed to form a working government, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
Poland looking into report of Nazi treasure train found
WARSAW (Reuters) – Two people in Poland say they have found a Nazi German train cloaked in mystery since it was rumored to have gone missing near the end of World War Two while carrying away gems and guns ahead of advancing Soviet Red Army forces.
