Mideast’s arch-survivor stands in way of Saudi success in Yemen
DUBAI (Reuters) – Three weeks of Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen have led to defections of army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, military sources said, dealing a blow to his efforts to stage a comeback.
Islamic State withdraws from Yarmouk camp, Nusra remains: residents
AMMAN (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters have largely withdrawn from a Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus after expelling their main rival, several residents and a Palestinian official said on Wednesday.
European Parliament votes to call 1915 Armenian killings genocide
BRUSSELS/ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The European Parliament backed a motion on Wednesday that calls the massacre a century ago of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces a “genocide”, days after Pope Francis triggered fury in Turkey by using th…
Brazil’s Rousseff under pressure after party treasurer jailed
CURITIBA, Brazil (Reuters) – Brazilian police on Wednesday arrested the treasurer of the ruling Workers’ Party Joao Vaccari, moving an investigation of rampant corruption at state-run oil company Petrobras closer to President Dilma Rousseff’s inner cir…
Former Ukrainian lawmaker shot dead in Kiev: interior ministry
KIEV (Reuters) – Oleg Kalashnikov, a former member of parliament for ex-president Viktor Yanukovich’s discredited Party of Regions, was found shot dead in Kiev on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a statement.
China reef work could lead to new air exclusion zone: U.S. commander
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China could eventually deploy radar and missile systems on outposts it is building in the South China Sea that could be used to enforce an exclusion zone over the disputed territory, the U.S. military commander for Asia said on W…
U.N. calls for exhumation of Congo mass grave
KINSHASA (Reuters) – The U.N. mission in Democratic Republic of Congo urged the government on Wednesday to exhume more than 400 bodies buried last month in a mass grave, the head of the organization’s human rights office said.
Iran says nuclear deal depends on lifting of sanctions
ANKARA/DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran said on Wednesday it would only accept a deal over its contested nuclear program if world powers simultaneously lifted all sanctions imposed on it.
Greece in talks with Russia to buy missiles for S-300 systems: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Greece is negotiating with Russia for the purchase of missiles for its S-300 anti-missile systems and for their maintenance, Russia’s RIA news agency quoted Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos as saying on Wednesday.
Iraq PM says Yemen could stoke regional war, slams Saudi operations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Wednesday the fighting in Yemen could engulf the region in war, and suggested after talks in Washington that U.S. leaders shared his concerns and “want to stop this conflict as soon as…
