In Pakistan’s Pashtun tribal belt, Taliban reject peace talks
WAZIRISTAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – The Pakistani Taliban envoy drew his white trousers up before settling on the floor of a mud-walled house in Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun tribal region near the Afghan border.
Insight: Violent raid exposes risks for investors in Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Workmen cut the door from its frame, allowing a dozen men in balaclavas and hoods to enter a Moscow restaurant.
Isolated Hamas faces money crisis in Gaza Strip
GAZA (Reuters) – Hamas is struggling to meet its payroll in the Gaza Strip, where income from taxes has been badly hit since neighboring Egypt started destroying a network of tunnels used to smuggle food, fuel and weapons into the Islamist-run enclave….
Dramatic letter details Australian outlaw Ned Kelly’s capture
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A 133-year-old letter has given the first civilian account of the capture of Ned Kelly, Australia’s most famous outlaw, and will go on public display for the first time on Monday.
Taiwan says China could launch successful invasion by 2020
TAIPEI (Reuters) – China will be able to fend off U.S. forces and successfully invade Taiwan by 2020, the island’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, the first time Taipei has given such a precise timetable for the threat it says it faces.
Turkish court upholds convictions of top officers over coup plot
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s appeals court upheld convictions on Wednesday of top retired military officers for leading a plot to overthrow Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government a decade ago in a case underlining civilian dominance over a once all-…
China’s Bo Xilai allowed to appeal against life in jail
BEIJING (Reuters) – A court in eastern China on Wednesday allowed ousted former senior politician Bo Xilai to appeal against a life sentence handed out last month on crimes of corruption and abuse of power.
Polish PM denies seeking replacement for finance minister
WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk denied on Wednesday he was planning to dismiss Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski.
Iran rejects U.S. condition for joining Syria peace conference
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran rejects any conditions for taking part in a long-delayed peace conference on Syria, Iranian media reported, in effect dismissing a U.S. suggestion that Tehran back a call for a transitional government in Damascus.
Afghan Taliban say Pakistan still holds ex-No 2 in jail
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday Pakistan has not freed their former second-in-command, Mullah Baradar, as promised and that his health is deteriorating in prison.
