Swedish Liberal leader to step down, casts shadow over govt’s stability
The leader of Sweden’s Liberals will step down in November, he said on Wednesday, less than a month after backing Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven as prime minister in a deal that split his own party.
Venezuela’s Guaido asks Italy’s leaders to meet his envoys
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido has asked Italy’s ruling coalition leaders to meet with representatives as he seeks their explicit backing as interim president alongside almost all other European countries.
Venezuelan government sold 73 tonnes of gold to UAE, Turkey last year: legislator
The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sold 73 tonnes of gold to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey last year without complying with regulations, opposition legislator Carlos Paparoni said on Wednesday.
‘Stay out of politics’ Pakistan court tells powerful military
Pakistan’s top court on Wednesday warned the military and intelligence agencies they must not exceed their mandate and meddle in politics, an apparent rebuke over their handling of Islamist protests in 2017.
Brazil president’s senator son faces fresh graft allegations
The son of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is facing accusations of money laundering in connection with at least two luxury apartments he purchased in Rio de Janeiro, according to federal prosecutors and a local news report published Wednesday.
Taliban, Washington at odds over Afghanistan troop pullout
A Taliban official said on Wednesday the United States had promised to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April, the RIA news agency reported, but Washington said no timeframe had been set.
International Red Cross steps up aid operations in Venezuela
The International Committee of the Red Cross has doubled its budget in Venezuela to 18 million Swiss francs in recent weeks and is also helping Venezuelan migrants in neighboring Colombia and Brazil, ICRC President Peter Maurer said on Wednesday.
Pompeo reassures allies of U.S. commitments in Syria, Iraq
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday reassured allies that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria was not “the end of America’s fight” and called on them to recommit to permanently defeating Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
Sabarimala Hindu temple board reverses opposition to women worshippers
The board of an ancient Hindu hill temple in southern India said on Wednesday it now favoured allowing female worshippers of menstruating age to enter, reversing its previous support for a centuries-old ban.
Greece’s Tsipras sees seminary as source of hope for Turkey ties
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras voiced hope that a closed Orthodox Christian seminary he was visiting in Turkey on Wednesday would be reopened as part of efforts to boost ties long strained by disputes over territory, energy and Cyprus.
