Syria and neighbors need reconstruction plan: World Bank
BEIRUT (Reuters) – World powers and international donors must prepare a post-war reconstruction plan for Syria and its neighbors to help the region recover from the Syrian conflict, the head of the World Bank said on Tuesday.
Qatar allowing freed Taliban men to move freely in country: Gulf official
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar has moved five Afghan Taliban prisoners freed in exchange for a U.S. soldier to a residential compound and will let them move freely in the country, a senior Gulf official said on Tuesday, a step likely to be scrutinized by Washi…
China shrugs off security concerns on new link to restless west
TURPAN China (Reuters) – China showed off its first high-speed rail link to the restive far western region of Xinjiang on Tuesday, promising that it could guarantee the security of an important economic project despite a recent serious escalation in vi…
Airlines debate costs of aircraft tracking after Malaysian’s loss
DOHA (Reuters) – Moves by airlines to keep track of their aircraft in real time following the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines’ flight MH370 could push up ticket prices for passengers – but governments should also foot part of the bill, airline indu…
Venezuela must play fair and release airlines’ money: IATA
DOHA (Reuters) – Venezuela is being “wilfully irresponsible” in its treatment of airlines that have more than $4 billion of revenue trapped in the country, a leading industry body said on Tuesday.
Consumer survey shows Thais hoping army will bring order after chaos
BANGKOK (Reuters) – An index of consumer confidence in Thailand jumped in May on hopes a military government that seized power promising to impose order after months of political chaos will drag the economy back from the brink of recession.
Putin to meet Merkel during D-Day visit, no plans to meet Obama
SOCHI Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in France on Friday during a visit on the 70th anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings in World War Two, Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said….
Indian minister killed in road collision, blow for Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s minister for rural development died on Tuesday after a road collision in New Delhi, depriving Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a key ally eight days after coming to office with a mandate to revitalise a stalled economy.
West ponders how to stop – or fight – a new Great War
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After more than a decade focused on combating Islamist militancy, Western military planners are once again contemplating potential war between major powers – and how to prevent one happening by accident.
Saudi Arabia sacks minister criticized over handling of MERS
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has sacked Deputy Health Minister Ziad Memish who has been criticized by some international scientists over his handling of the deadly MERS virus that has infected 575 people in the kingdom and spread around the world.
