German foreign minister says Syria meeting a ‘hopeful sign’
VIENNA (Reuters) – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday an international meeting on the Syrian conflict was a hopeful sign for Syria and the region as arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia would sit at the table with the others fo…
Ukraine calls deadly depot blast a terrorist act
KIEV (Reuters) – Explosions in a Ukrainian ammunition depot that killed two civilians overnight is being investigated as a terrorist act, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.
China vice president to visit India in November as ties warm
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao will visit India next month, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday, the second top Chinese official set to visit as ties warm between the Asian powers.
U.N. warns of dire food situation in Yemen’s Taiz
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. World Food Programme on Friday appealed for safe access to the Yemeni city of Taiz, saying that fighting between warring factions had blocked food supplies and left thousands of people in extreme hunger.
To arm against drought, Kenya maps its water resources
MWEA, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – After inheriting land from his father 20 years ago, George Kinyua did the same as thousands of other local farmers: he grew rice using water from canals.
Syria opposition, rebel dismiss Iran idea for transition
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Any peace plan for Syria allowing President Bashar al-Assad to stand in early elections after a transition period would be “mad” because he is the root of the problem and holding a nationwide poll is impossible, a Syrian opposition f…
Turkey’s critical media fear deeper crackdown if election bolsters Erdogan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – In almost half a century as a reporter, columnist and editor of two national newspapers, Hasan Cemal has seen coups, military rule and government crises shake Turkish democracy. But never, he says, have press freedoms been so curta…
Russia says no country can use military force in Syria without government approval
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that no country could use military force in Syria without first securing the agreement of the Syrian government, the TASS news agency reported.
Britain seeks ’emergency brake’ for non-euro countries: FT
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is seeking an “emergency brake” to allow countries which are in the European Union but outside the euro zone to delay decisions that could threaten their interests, the Financial Times reported.
Militant-linked charity on front line of Pakistan quake aid
REHANKOT, Pakistan (Reuters) – The United Nations says Pakistani charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa is a front for a deadly militant group blamed for a bloody 2008 attack on the Indian city of Mumbai. But to survivors of this week’s earthquake, the Islamist aid wo…
