India, Pakistan contacts at ‘zero’ despite border cooperation
Contacts between India and Pakistan are “zero”, Pakistan’s foreign minister said, even as a border crossing opened on Saturday for Indian pilgrims to visit a Sikh temple in one of the most significant acts of cooperation in decades by the old rivals.
Iraqi PM concedes ‘mistakes made’ as protesters pushed back in Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Saturday that political parties had “made mistakes” in their running of the country, promising electoral reform and other measures as he sought to bring an end to months of protests.
Cambodian opposition veteran lands in Malaysia saying ‘Keep up the hope’
Cambodian opposition veteran Sam Rainsy flew into Malaysia on Saturday after promising to return home from self-imposed exile to rally opponents of authoritarian ruler Hun Sen.
Thousands gather for ‘martyrs’ vigil amid Hong Kong protests
Hong Kong protesters held a vigil for “martyrs” on Saturday and many demanded “revenge” after a student died in hospital this week following a high fall, fuelling anger among pro-democracy demonstrators who first took to the streets in June.
Ukraine, Russian-backed rebels begin Donbass village withdrawal
Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels began withdrawing from a village in the disputed Donbass region on Saturday, one of a series of measures that could pave the way for a summit between Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.
Germany celebrates 30th anniversary of Berlin Wall’s fall
Germany on Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Germany, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanking Eastern European neighbours for enabling a peaceful revolution.
Lebanon’s grand mufti calls for protesters’ demands to be met
Lebanon’s grand mufti, the top cleric for Sunni Muslims, called on Saturday for the formation of a new emergency government of technical experts and for those in power to meet protesters’ demands.
Iraqi PM calls for protests to allow a return to ‘normal life’
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Saturday that while protests were important in bringing about political reform, life in the country must now be allowed to return to normal.
Ukraine, separatists begin planned troop withdrawal in eastern region: witness
Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels began a planned withdrawal of troops and weaponry from a village in the eastern Donbass region on Saturday, a Reuters witness at the scene said.
Slain in Mexico, seven-month-old twins buried in rain-swept funeral
Hundreds of mourners gathered on Friday for the burial of a mother, her months-old twins and two other children on the fringes of a township founded by breakaway Mormons in Mexico, in a second funeral for the victims of a brazen armed ambush.
