Iraqi foreign minister dismisses Saudi worries about Iranian control
CAIRO (Reuters) – Iraq’s foreign minister dismissed Saudi concerns that Iran was taking control of his country and he said Baghdad sought good relations with both regional powers.
Bangladesh police stood close by during U.S. blogger attack: victim’s wife
DHAKA (Reuters) – The wife of an American blogger and critic of religious extremism who was hacked to death in Dhaka last month said that police stood nearby when the couple were attacked on a university campus in the Bangladesh capital.
China investigates former boss of Xinjiang’s capital for suspected corruption
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former senior official in the capital of China’s restive western region of Xinjiang who was sacked after deadly riots in 2009 has been put under investigation for suspected corruption, the graft watchdog said on Wednesday.
Court summons India’s ex-PM Singh in coal corruption case
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian court summoned former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday over accusations of criminal conspiracy and corruption in the illegal award of a coal field, a blow for the Gandhi dynasty that ruled India until last year…
Islamic State battling Kurdish forces in northeast Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hundreds of Islamic State fighters have launched an attack on Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, triggering fierce fighting that has killed dozens on both sides, a group monitoring the war said on Wednesday.
Swedish artist on al Qaeda’s hit list has no regrets
MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) – His public appearances are cancelled, friends shy away and he is confined to a safehouse but Swedish artist Lars Vilks, twice targeted by Islamist assasins, says he has no regrets even though he feels that those who wish him d…
Japan lawmakers ponder powering up casino bill via obscure parliamentary panel
TOKYO (Reuters) – Die-hard proponents of legalized casinos in Japan are considering a last-ditch effort to get their bill passed – by the obscure route of a parliamentary committee that handles matters like the removal of power poles.
Russia holds aviation, anti-aircraft exercises in Stavropol region: agency
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia began military exercises with the use of aviation and anti-aircraft systems in its southern Stavropol region, Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported on Wednesday, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.
Ukraine military says one serviceman killed in separatist east
KIEV (Reuters) – One Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and four wounded in fighting in separatist eastern territories in the past 24 hours despite a ceasefire deal, a Ukrainian military spokesman said on Wednesday.
China slams ASEAN chief for South China Sea comments
BEIJING (Reuters) – China expressed anger on Wednesday at the Vietnamese head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for comments he made on the disputed South China Sea, rejecting Chinese claims based on the so-called nine-dash line.
