Syria’s Assad meets French lawmakers
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Wednesday with French parliamentarians, the first such meeting since France closed its embassy in 2012 and announced that Syria’s leader had lost all legitimacy.
In holy city, Iran’s Rouhani seeks clergy’s backing for nuclear talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited the holy city of Qom on Wednesday to appeal to its clergy, religious students and lay people to back his efforts to strike a deal with major powers over the country’s disputed nuclear program….
Jamaican parliament clears way for marijuana reforms
KINGSTON (Reuters) – Jamaica’s parliament cleared the way for decriminalizing marijuana by approving amendments to its Dangerous Drugs Act late Tuesday night.
France plans broader dialogue with its large Muslim minority
PARIS (Reuters) – France outlined plans for a broader dialogue with its Muslim minority on Wednesday after the faith’s official council proved unable to deal with the challenges presented by Islamist radicalization.
Food aid resumes for refugees in Niger after Boko Haram scare
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Food aid is again flowing to thousands of refugees on the border between Niger and Nigeria, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday, ending a suspension of deliveries by humanitarian groups because they fear…
Islamic State seize 100 Iraqi tribesmen before battle for Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters have abducted 100 Sunni Muslim tribesmen near the city of Tikrit, local tribal leaders said on Wednesday, apparently to neutralize suspected opponents before a widely expected army offensive.
Kazakh veteran leader calls snap presidential poll on April 26
ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Wednesday called an early presidential election in the oil-producing Central Asian state on April 26.
Security tightened at New Delhi churches after attacks
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Indian government said on Wednesday it had boosted security around hundreds of churches in New Delhi after a spate of attacks on religious institutions unnerved minority Christians.
Avalanches kill 92 in Afghanistan, humanitarian crisis feared
KABUL (Reuters) – More than 90 people have been killed in Afghanistan in some of the worst avalanches there for 30 years, officials said on Wednesday, with heavy snow set to last for two more days after an unusually dry winter led to fears of drought.
Former Greek finance minister stands trial over tampering with tax-dodger list
ATHENS (Reuters) – Former Greek finance minister George Papaconstantinou went on trial on Wednesday on charges of tampering with a list of alleged tax evaders in a case that aroused anger among a public hit by austerity policies and economic crisis.
