Al Qaeda, Kurdish militia clash on Syrian border with Turkey
AMMAN (Reuters) – Seven al Qaeda-affiliated rebels were killed in a battle with a Syrian Kurdish militia on Wednesday, as violence between Syria’s Arabs and Kurds increased, opposition activists said.
South Korea ahead of North in air power but seeks stealth as deterrent
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s decision to reject a bid by Boeing to supply 60 warplanes and to re-issue a tender was made in the interests of better technology but may not be justified given North Korea’s weak air capabilities, experts said on Wednes…
Israeli-Palestinian talks to intensify, greater U.S. role
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to intensify their peace talks and to increase the U.S. role, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday in a rare comment on the negotiations.
Iran wants ‘jump-start’ in nuclear talks with big powers
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister expressed hope on Wednesday that a meeting with top diplomats from the United States and five other powers this week will jump-start negotiations to resolve the decade-long dispute over the Iranian nuc…
Death toll from earthquake in Pakistan rises to 327
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwest Pakistan rose to 327 on Wednesday after hundreds of mud houses collapsed on residents throughout the remote and thinly populated area, local officials said.
Kerry signs U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, says won’t harm U.S. rights
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States signed a U.N. Arms Trade Treaty regulating the $70 billion global trade in conventional arms on Wednesday and the Obama administration sought to allay the fears of the powerful U.S. gun lobby which says the …
Sri Lanka drifting towards authoritarian rule: U.N. rights chief
GENEVA (Reuters) – Four years after it crushed a long separatist rebellion, Sri Lanka may be sliding towards an authoritarian system as President Mahinda Rajapaksa gathers power around him, the U.N. human rights chief said on Wednesday.
Deposed Honduran leader’s wife narrowly ahead in presidential race: poll
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – Leftist Honduran presidential candidate Xiomara Castro, the wife of deposed former President Manuel Zelaya, appears to have a slight lead in the race to become the next head of the Central American country, according to a poll r…
Merkel allies talk tax rises in coalition overtures
BERLIN (Reuters) – Conservative allies of Germany’s Angela Merkel said on Wednesday they might agree to raise taxes to help lure the defeated center-left Social Democrats into a grand coalition that would keep the chancellor in power.
Israel, Palestinians agree to intensify talks, greater U.S. role
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to intensify their peace talks with greater participation by the United States, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.
