Syria builds dollar reserves, thanks partly to Assad’s enemies
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syria’s central bank has bought hundreds of millions of dollars from the domestic currency market it now tightly controls, helping to build up depleted reserves for an economy crippled by civil war, bankers and dealers say.
U.N. troops fired warning shots to protect South Sudan compound
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. peacekeepers fired warning shots to deter fighters from a United Nations base in South Sudan after gunfire reached the compound, wounding dozens and killing at least one civilian seeking refuge there, a U.N. spokesman sa…
Franco-German energy plan to focus on renewables, not mergers
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande’s surprise announcement of a Franco-German energy joint venture did not target major utilities but renewable energy and electricity networks, his aides said on Wednesday.
U.N. chief Ban fears Nigeria anti-gay law will fuel violence
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern on Wednesday at a new Nigerian law that criminalizes same-sex relationships, which he fears could fuel prejudice and violence and risks obstructing an effective HIV/AI…
Car bomb blamed on al Qaeda kills 26 in north Syrian town
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A car bomb blamed on a radical group linked to al Qaeda killed at least 26 people in a rebel-held city of northern Syria on Wednesday, an opposition monitoring group said.
Bahrain crown prince meets opposition on ending political deadlock
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain’s crown prince met the Shi’ite Muslim opposition leader on Wednesday in search of a way out of a three-year political deadlock, a week after reconciliation talks were suspended in a setback for efforts to stabilize the U.S.-a…
Violence kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Bomb attacks and shootings killed at least 75 people in Iraq on Wednesday, police and hospital sources said, making it one of the bloodiest days in months.
U.N. says surveillance drone in Congo slips off runway
KINSHASA (Reuters) – An unmanned aircraft used by U.N. peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo slipped off the runway on Wednesday near the eastern town of Goma, the head of the U.N. mission said.
Global press group visits Britain over newspaper freedom fears
LONDON (Reuters) – A global media organization began its first press freedom mission to Britain on Wednesday over concerns about the government’s plans to regulate newspapers and its response to the Edward Snowden revelations.
Damascus says West reaches out on security
DUBAI (Reuters) – Some Western nations opposed to President Bashar al-Assad have discussed security cooperation with his government, Syria said on Wednesday, a move which if true would suggest a rise in Western concerns about foreign militants in rebel…
