SYRIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin on Wednesday for talks on rebuilding Syria after its civil war and mending Damascus’s ties with Turkey.

Welcoming Mr Assad at the start of the meeting that comes on the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil war, Mr Putin emphasised the Russian military’s “decisive contribution” to its government’s victory.

POLAND: A Warsaw court convicted women’s rights activist Justyna Wydrzynska on Tuesday for helping a victim of domestic violence access abortion pills in Poland and sentenced her to eight months of community service.

Ms Wydrzynska’s case has been closely watched by human rights activists who believe it will set a precedent in a country with some of Europe’s most restrictive abortion legislation.

CHINA: Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s Defence Ministry announced today.

The ministry statement said: “This exercise will help deepen practical co-operation between the participating countries’ navies and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability.” 

TURKEY: Floods have hit two provinces that were devastated by last month’s earthquake, killing at least five people and increasing the misery for thousands who were left homeless, officials said on Wednesday. 

One person was killed in the town of Tut in south-eastern Adiyaman province, where surging waters swept away a container home where a group of earthquake survivors were living. Four people were missing.

Four other people were killed and two firefighters were reported missing in neighbouring Sanliurfa province.