Indonesian security forces abseil down high-rise in Asian Games drill
Indonesian security forces jumped out of helicopters and abseiled down the side of a high-rise in a counter-terrorism drill in Jakarta on Wednesday, as preparations for this month’s Asian Games gathered momentum.
Thieves steal Swedish royal crowns, flee in motorboat
Thieves have stolen two crowns and an orb from the Swedish royal family’s collection, making off in a motorboat after the heist.
Pakistan dismisses U.S. concerns about IMF bailout and China
Pakistan on Wednesday dismissed U.S. concerns that any new International Monetary Fund bailout for the South Asian nation would be used to repay Chinese debt as “totally wrong”.
Video appears to show missing Japanese journalist pleading for help
A Japanese freelance journalist being held by militants in Syria appeared to surface on video published by Japanese media on Wednesday, pleading for help after three years in captivity, the government said.
Greek fire victims sue authorities over deaths in Mati
The relatives of a woman and a man killed in a wildfire near Athens last week have sued state authorities, the fire brigade and police over their deaths.
Gunmen strike convoy with Mali election materials, 12 killed in shootout
Gunmen attacked a convoy carrying election materials in central Mali, triggering a shootout in which four soldiers and eight attackers were killed, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
U.S. says remains returned by North Korea likely American
More than 50 boxes handed over by North Korea to the United States last week appear to hold human remains from the 1950-1953 Korean War and are likely American, according to an initial forensic analysis, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.
Iranian forces pulled back from Golan Heights: Russian news agency
Iranian forces have withdrawn their heavy weapons to a distance of 85 km (53 miles) from the Golan Heights frontier between Israel and Syria, TASS news agency quoted Russia’s envoy to Syria as saying on Wednesday.
Iran MPs summon Rouhani as U.S. pressure squeezes economy
Iranian lawmakers have given President Hassan Rouhani one month to appear before parliament to answer questions on his government’s handling of Iran’s economic struggles, state media reported on Wednesday.
Syria says road to Jordan crossing is ready, studies opening
The road to Syria’s border crossing with Jordan, closed by conflict in 2011, is ready for use and Damascus is looking at prospects of reopening it after recovering the border from rebels, the Syrian transport minister said.
