ISTANBUL, March 25 (Reuters) – Turkey “is playing a role passing messages” between Iran and the U.S. to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations, Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, told Reuters on Wednesday. He did not elaborate on the messages but said they were also being conveyed to…
MOSCOW, March 25 (Reuters) – Russia remains in contact with the United States on a possible settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and hopes Washington will continue its mediation efforts, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. “Moscow continues to maintain contact with the Americans through existing channels. We are receiving updates on the situation….
TAIPEI, March 25 (Reuters) – The United States has “quite a high” sense of urgency in helping Taiwan strengthen its military capabilities and is working to help speed up delayed weapons deliveries, the island’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday. Taiwan, which faces a rising military threat from China, has complained of repeated delays…
LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) – Hundreds of British families will test social media bans, curfews and app time limits to see how they impact children’s sleep, family life and schoolwork, the government said. Britain, like other governments, is considering restricting access to social media for children. Nothing is off the table, it has said, including…
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A U.N. Security Council resolution calling for countries to use “all necessary means” to keep the Strait of Hormuz open is facing some opposition for raising the possibility of U.N.-backed military action against Iran, according to three council diplomats. Bahrain put forward the proposal, which was obtained by The Associated Press…
PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) – French media tycoon Vincent Bolloré told lawmakers on Tuesday that he had become the “perfect scapegoat” for what he described as a hostile elite, rejecting accusations that his conservative media empire was waging a political war. The hearing forms part of a parliamentary investigation into France’s public broadcaster, an inquiry…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to France this week to try to sell America’s skeptical Group of Seven allies on the strategy of the Iran war that has sent global fuel prices soaring, the State Department said Tuesday. Rubio will attend a G7 foreign ministers meeting near Versailles outside of…
By Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante ROME, March 24 (Reuters) – Giorgia Meloni’s defeat in a justice reform referendum has thrust the Italian leader into the toughest phase of her premiership, with her authority weakened, her reform programme in tatters and no easy way to regain the initiative. The prime minister’s right-wing coalition suffered a…
BEIJING, March 24 – Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to the ambitious Xiongan project still under construction near Beijing, calling on officials to “throw themselves” into completing a task on which he has staked his name and legacy. Located about 100 km (60 miles) southwest of the capital in the province of…
VILNIUS, March 24 (Reuters) – A military drone that crashed in Lithuania came from Ukraine and was aimed at attacking Russia’s oil exports before going astray, the Baltic country’s government said on Tuesday. Lithuania’s armed forces said on Monday a suspected drone had entered the country’s airspace and crashed into an ice-covered lake some 20…