Iran’s Zarif spoke on the phone with Syrian counterpart: Fars news
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke on the phone on Wednesday with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Moualem, Fars news agency reported, quoting state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Explainer: Scenic Kashmir at the heart of India-Pakistani animosity
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been at the heart of more than 70 years of animosity, since the partition of the British colony of India into the separate countries of Muslim Pakistan and majority Hindu India.
Head of UK Conservative eurosceptics softens on May’s Brexit plan
The leader of a pro-Brexit faction in British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party on Wednesday scaled back his opposition to her deal for leaving the European Union ahead of a vote on the agreement next month. Jacob Rees-Mogg said he would no longer insist that the so-called Northern Irish backstop be removed as a condition for his support and other legal ways might ensure it was not permanent.
Germany’s Merkel: If Britain needs more time for Brexit, we won’t refuse
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that if Britain needed more time to sort out its departure from the European Union, she would not refuse.
French President: no Brexit Article 50 extension without clear objective
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that there could only be an agreement for an extension to the Brexit Article 50 negotiation period if justified by Britain and if there were clear objectives.
Italy has excessive economic imbalances, a risk to euro zone: EU
Italy is facing excessive economic imbalances and the policies of its government are making matters worse, posing a threat to other euro zone countries, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
40,000 Nigerian refugees in Camerron ordered back to northeast Nigeria: MSF
Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities have ordered 40,000 refugees in Cameroon to return to northeast Nigeria, aid agency Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Wednesday.
Britain urges India, Pakistan to exercise restraint after jets shot down
Britain’s junior Foreign Office minister Mark Field said he will speak with Indian and Pakistani envoys on Wednesday to urge their countries to exercise restraint after both sides said they shot down each other’s fighter jets.
Pakistan says has only one downed Indian pilot
Pakistan’s chief military spokesman said on Wednesday the Pakistani army currently had only one downed Indian pilot in custody, having previously said two pilots had been captured, one of whom was wounded.
Trump adviser Kushner arrives in Turkey for talks with Erdogan
White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan that are expected to focus on a U.S. peace plan for the Middle East.
