Pakistan says 34 militants killed in ‘precise’ strikes in northwest
PESHAWAR (Reuters) – Pakistani air strikes on Wednesday killed 34 militants in the country’s lawless northwest, near the mountainous border with Afghanistan, security officials said, but residents put the toll at 20.
Brazil’s Rousseff’s popularity tumbles in new poll
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s popularity fell to a new low in a poll released on Wednesday, weakening her even further at a time when she is facing public calls for her impeachment and trying to push austerity measures thro…
Japan ruling bloc agrees on new security legislation
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling parties reached broad agreement on Wednesday that paves the way for the most drastic change in the nation’s security policy in six decades and sets the stage to update guidelines for defense cooperation with Washington.
EU’s Tusk discussing Russia sanctions proposal with Merkel, Hollande
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Council President Donald Tusk is discussing a proposal with the German and French leaders that would link European Union sanctions on Russia to full implementation of a Ukraine ceasefire accord, a senior EU official said o…
France steps up monitoring of cash payments to fight ‘low-cost terrorism’
PARIS (Reuters) – France will step up monitoring of cash payments, withdrawals and small bank accounts to better fight against the financing of terrorism, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on Wednesday.
Indonesia unlikely to execute drug convicts for weeks or months: VP Kalla
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia is not likely to execute a group of death row convicts, mostly foreigners, for weeks or even months, until its courts decide on their last-minute legal appeals, Vice President Jusuf Kalla told Reuters on Wednesday.
South Korea business officials visit factory park to protest North’s wage rises
PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) – A group of South Korean businessmen on Wednesday visited an industrial park Seoul runs jointly with Pyongyang to protest North Korea’s decision to increase wages paid to workers there, the latest in a series of spats over …
EU confirms March 20 for Ukraine-Russia gas talks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission confirmed on Wednesday that Brussels would host talks on Friday with Ukraine and Russian officials to discuss Russian gas supplies to Ukraine.
Three Iraqis dead in explosion near Kuwaiti border – Kuwaiti news agency
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) – Three Iraqis were killed on Wednesday when a booby-trapped truck exploded in Iraq near the border with Kuwait, Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.
Vietnam calls for ‘self-restraint’ in disputed South China Sea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Vietnam and Australia called on Wednesday for “self-restraint” in the South China Sea and warned against the unilateral use of force, an obvious reference to China’s increasingly aggressive presence that has stirred concerns across t…
