Troubled Mideast peace effort compounds U.S. policy woes in region
WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) – Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September, U.S. President Barack Obama declared the pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian peace one of the two main U.S. foreign policy priorities for his second term.
Greeks strike against austerity before Merkel visit
ATHENS (Reuters) – Thousands of striking Greeks marched to parliament on Wednesday to protest against job cuts and austerity measures imposed by the country’s foreign creditors, including Germany, whose leader will visit Athens this week.
Bomb kills 20 in market on edge of Pakistani capital
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A bomb exploded in a crowded market on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Wednesday, killing 20 people and injuring about 70 in the deadliest attack in the city in years.
Spanish minister to head PP party’s European election list
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) said on Wednesday it had picked popular Agriculture Minister Miguel Arias Canete to head its list of candidates for the European Parliamentary elections in May.
UK warns it may not buy electricity from an independent Scotland
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain may not buy electricity from an independent Scottish state if imports from alternative markets are cheaper, the UK government has warned, putting further pressure on Scotland five months before its independence vote.
Japan, U.S. make progress on trade; key differences remain
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese and U.S. trade negotiators made progress on Wednesday in trade talks meant to spur a broader Pacific trade pact and prepare for a visit by President Barack Obama, but they remain apart on key issues, both sides said.
Egypt arrests journalist said to work for Al Jazeera: agency
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian security forces have arrested a man who worked for Qatar’s Al Jazeera television network and accused him of inciting and taking part in violence, the state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu orders cutback in contacts with Palestinian Authority
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel announced on Wednesday a partial freeze in high-level contacts with the Palestinians in retaliation for their signing of international conventions, deepening a crisis that threatens to wreck U.S.-brokered peace talks.
Japan’s scrambles against Chinese planes hit record high
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese fighter jet scrambles against Chinese planes hit a record high in the year that ended in March, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, as Sino-Japanese ties were strained by disputes over territory and interpretations of his…
Indonesia’s PDI-P leads in elections, but less than expected-pollster
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s opposition party, Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), led in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, but will not likely get enough votes to independently field a presidential candidate, according to a quick coun…
