Russia’s Lavrov says fighting ‘terrorism’ should unite Syrian opposition, Damascus
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged members of the Syrian opposition and representatives from Damascus at peace talks in Moscow on Wednesday to join forces to combat the threat of “terrorism”.
U.S. says air strikes pound Islamic State targets near Kobani, Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and partner nations launched 13 air strikes near Kobani, Syria, in the last 24 hours, the U.S. military said, as they continued their air assault to help drive the last Islamic State forces out of city.
Jordan says ready to free Iraqi militant if pilot released
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan said on Wednesday it was willing to hand over an Iraqi woman detained for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing in Amman if a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State was released.
Copenhagen copper crooks hit rail commuters
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Commuters in the Danish capital faced widespread disruptions on the train network caused by the third theft in a week of copper cables from the tracks.
France, Germany, Britain to meet Iran on nuclear issue
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – France, Germany and Britain will hold talks on Thursday with Iran in Istanbul, the European Union said, as part of efforts to end a 12-year standoff over Tehran’s atomic ambitions.
Suicide attack kills at least five people in north Mali: sources
BAMAKO (Reuters) – A suicide attack in the disputed north Malian town of Tabankort killed at least five people overnight, according to two Tuareg rebel sources on Wednesday.
Indonesian president’s advisers urge him to drop police chief pick
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A team of advisers appointed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged him on Wednesday to withdraw his nomination for national police chief after the anti-graft agency declared the candidate a suspect in a bribery case.
Kazakhstan bans rallies, fearing Ukraine-style turmoil: U.N. report
ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan says it has clamped down on peaceful rallies out of fear of a repeat of the protests that brought chaos to Ukraine, a United Nations special rapporteur said in a critical report on the central Asian state.
Putin eyes benefits as rebels gain in Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Boxed into a corner by a financial crisis and the West’s refusal to drop sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has come out fighting.
U.S. provides more aid to Ukraine, threatens to step up sanctions on Russia
KIEV (Reuters) – The United States signed an agreement on Wednesday to provide $2 billion in loan guarantees to help war-torn Ukraine with “near-term social spending” in 2015 and said it was prepared to step up economic sanctions against Russia if nece…
