Iran considered nuclear weapons during 1980s Iraq war, ex-president says
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran considered pursuing a nuclear deterrent when it began its nuclear program in the 1980s, during an eight-year war with Iraq, a former president has been quoted as saying.
Two more Japanese being held in China, says Chinese official
TOKYO – (Reuters) – China is holding two Japanese in addition to two arrested earlier this year for spying, a Chinese official in Tokyo said on Thursday, but did not give further details, including whether they were also suspected of espionage.
India’s Modi pitches ‘partnership of prosperity’ to Africa
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned on the charm for African leaders on Thursday, promising $10 billion in credit to back a “partnership of prosperity” and pitching a broad alliance for global reform.
Greece should show determination in implementing reforms: Germany’s Steinmeier
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece should stick to reforms it has agreed with its lenders as part of a third bailout, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a newspaper interview released on Thursday.
Botswana grants 10 Eritrean soccer players asylum
GABORONE (Reuters) – Botswana has granted asylum to a group of 10 Eritrean soccer players who sought refuge after playing in a World Cup qualifying match earlier this month, their lawyer said on Thursday.
North Korea’s black market becoming the new normal
PYONGYANG (Reuters) – When North Korea’s late “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il opened the Pothonggang Department Store in December 2010, he called on it to play “a big role” in improving living standards in the capital Pyongyang, official media said.
Japanese protesters dragged away as work resumes at U.S. airbase
TOKYO (Reuters) – Police dragged away elderly protesters trying to block work on a contentious U.S. airbase in Okinawa on Thursday as Japan’s government resumed building even though the Okinawa governor had revoked a work permit for the site.
India says top militant killed in disputed Kashmir region
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Indian security forces in Kashmir killed on Thursday a top commander of Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who allegedly was involved in several attacks in the disputed region in recent years, an official said.
China, Germany agree Syria needs political solution
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on Thursday that there must be a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
Australia to join Chinese navy exercises in South China Sea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Two Australian warships will hold exercises with the Chinese navy in the South China Sea next week, Australia’s defense minister said on Thursday, just days after a U.S. navy patrol near a man-made Chinese island in the disputed wate…
