Greece’s anti-austerity Syriza party widens lead over conservatives
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s main opposition Syriza party has widened its lead over the ruling conservatives, a poll found on Wednesday, but most Greeks said they do not trust any party to rule the country.
China urges respect for ethnic traditions in restive Xinjiang
BEIJING (Reuters) – Ethnic traditions in Xinjiang must be respected, the top official in the restive far western region of China said, despite criticism that government policies there unfairly target the Muslim Uighur ethnic community.
In a nutshell, Kashmir trade stalls as India, Pakistan dispute drugs bust
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Efforts by India and Pakistan to increase trade and ease tension in disputed Kashmir have suffered a blow with Indian police saying they had seized more than 100 kg (220 lb) of heroin concealed in a truck full of nuts coming…
Australia rejects claims that navy mistreated asylum seekers
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia on Wednesday rejected claims by a group of asylum seekers that they were beaten and suffered burns while being returned to Indonesia by the Australian navy under a policy that has strained ties between the neighbors.
Bahrain deadlocked talks saved from brink, some hope for progress
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahrain’s crown prince has pulled reconciliation talks back from the brink by organizing a meeting with the Shi’ite opposition, and the appointment of a royal delegate, and agreed topics for new talks, have raised some hope of progre…
Snowden denies he got help from Russia in leaking U.S. secrets: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden said he acted alone in leaking U.S. government secrets and that suggestions by some U.S. lawmakers he might have had help from Russia were “absurd,” the New Yorker magazine reporte…
Insight: The U.N. invitation that nearly undid Syria peace talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – What was supposed to be one of the biggest diplomatic coups of Ban Ki-moon’s two terms as United Nations Secretary-General was nearly his worst disaster.
‘Perplexed’ India says U.S. probably still most important ally
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The case of the Indian consul arrested and strip-searched in New York last month was handled “appallingly” and needs to be resolved, but the United States remains probably India’s most important ally, the Indian ambassador to Was…
U.S. eyes options for Afghanistan after Congress cuts aid
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration is considering ways to ensure future financial assistance for Afghanistan after U.S. lawmakers halved development aid to the country.
Russian police kill Islamist militant leader before Olympics
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Police have killed a senior Islamist militant in Russia’s North Caucasus ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, where security forces searched on Tuesday for a woman they fear is planning an attack during the games.
