Russia’s new push for Syria dialogue unlikely to be fruitful
MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Fresh Russian efforts to encourage Syrian peace talks are unlikely to make progress because Moscow rejects opposition and Western calls for the swift departure of President Bashar al-Assad.
Romania’s next president eyes power shift within weeks
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s new president-elect Klaus Iohannis predicted on Tuesday that enough lawmakers could start abandoning Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s ruling coalition in the coming weeks to bring down the government next year.
Europe feels sting in the tail of Russia sanctions
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – At a technology fair in Moscow last month, European executives faced the new reality of doing business in Russia since the West imposed sanctions: the number of companies at the international showcase had shrunk by half from a year…
China considers suing ‘economic fugitives’ in the U.S., official says
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is considering suing people suspected of committing economic crimes who have fled to the United States and elsewhere with billions of dollars, an unusual step in a widening anti-graft campaign, a senior official said on Wednes…
Australia working on new drift modeling for MH370 wreckage
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia is working on new drift modeling to expand the geographical area in which wreckage from missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 may come ashore, the Australian search coordinator said on Wednesday.
Myanmar political leaders to hold talks on amending constitution
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s parliament has unanimously endorsed talks between the country’s top political leaders on amending a military-drafted constitution that bars opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from being president, a parliamentarian from her party said.
Argentina president, back after sick leave, vows to fight hedge funds
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez returned to the public stage in fighting form on Tuesday after a 3-week break due to an infection, declaring in a speech to businessmen she would not be held ransom by hedge funds suing …
Coal mine accident in northern China kills 24: Xinhua
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A coal mine fire in China’s northern Liaoning province has killed 24 workers and left 52 injured, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday, underscoring the poor safety record of the world’s biggest coal producing coun…
Australian minister apologizes for submarine firm canoe remark
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s defense minister on Wednesday apologized after saying he would not trust the government-owned submarine firm “to build a canoe”, comments that fueled expectations that most work in a A$40 billion ($34 billion) program wil…
In Modi’s India, green shoots of reform from a desert state
JAIPUR, India (Reuters) – The reformist government that many Indians and free-market flag-bearers had hoped would emerge after this year’s election isn’t in New Delhi – at least not yet. It’s a dusty day’s drive to the southwest.