Germany’s Greens turn frosty towards any alliance with Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Greens threw up a new hurdle to a possible coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives on Wednesday by condemning her government’s refugee policies after the migrant boat disaster off the Italian island of Lampe…
Afghanistan risks becoming ‘narco-state’: U.N. official
VIENNA (Reuters) – Afghanistan risks becoming a “full-fledged narco-state” without international support to help create alternative jobs for its people, a senior United Nations official said on Wednesday.
Chemical weapons watchdog says Syria cooperating with mission
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Syrian officials have been constructive and cooperative in the early stages of the program to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal, the head of the global chemical weapons watchdog said on Wednesday.
Britain’s Cameron to raise human rights with Sri Lanka at Commonwealth summit
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday rejected calls to boycott a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka next month because of concerns over the country’s human rights record, but said he would raise difficult issues at the tal…
French strike to hit flights on Thursday
LONDON (Reuters) – Flights to and from France face disruption on Thursday due to a strike by air traffic controllers that has prompted companies including EasyJet, Ryanair and Lufthansa to scale back their normal schedule.
Saudi Arabia warns foreign workers: get the right visa or get out
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has told foreign workers – about a third of its 27 million population – to make sure their visas are in order before a planned crackdown next month or face possible deportation, local media reported on Wednesday.
Insight: Saudis brace for ‘nightmare’ of U.S.-Iran rapprochement
RIYADH (Reuters) – When Saudi Arabia’s veteran foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, made no annual address to the United Nations General Assembly last week for the first time ever, his unspoken message could hardly have been louder.
Liberal leader urges Egyptian army chief not to run for president
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army chief, who orchestrated the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July, should not run for the leadership in elections due to be held next year, the head of the biggest liberal party told Reuters.
World Bank plans to halve extreme poverty by 2020
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Wednesday said the global development lender will seek to halve extreme poverty by 2020, an interim goal as the bank seeks to fulfill its poverty-fighting targets.
Fire from Syria wounds Israeli soldier on Golan Heights
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Two mortar bombs fired from Syria hit an Israeli military post on the occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday, wounding an Israeli soldier, in an incident that drew Israeli return fire, the military said.
