Exclusive: Cash-strapped Iraq seeks Kuwait war reparation delay
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq is seeking to postpone a final $4.6 billion installment of reparations for its 1990-91 occupation of Kuwait, Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters, as it faces a cash crisis caused by falling oil prices and war with Isl…
Syrian rebel ‘hell cannons’ kill 300 civilians: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels using improvised mortar bombs made of cooking gas canisters killed 311 civilians between July and December this year, a monitoring group said on Friday, condemning the use of the wildly inaccurate weapons.
Sri Lankan government denies using state resources to skew poll
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s government has denied allegations made by a group of independent monitors that it is using state resources to give an unfair advantage to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is running for an unprecedented third term in next…
Don’t vote ‘wrong’ way, EU’s Juncker urges Greeks
VIENNA (Reuters) – The European Union’s chief executive has given Greeks a stark and unusual warning of major problems if they vote the “wrong” way and radicals win an early parliamentary election.
EU resumes aid to Mali, halted over suspected irregularities
BAMAKO (Reuters) – The European Union has resumed aid to Mali which it suspended in June due to suspected irregularities in government spending, including the purchase of a $40 million presidential jet, the Malian government announced on Friday.
Miners swell rebel ranks in east Ukraine as pits close
DONETSK, Ukraine/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Even at the age of 52, retired coalminer Viktor felt compelled to come out of retirement and join the pro-Russian separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine defense chief wants budget doubled to fight separatists
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s defense minister called on Friday for a doubling of the military budget next year to allow the army to buy weapons abroad and better equip itself to fight Russian-backed separatists in the east.
China to place permanent anti-graft teams in major departments
BEIJING (Reuters) – The corruption watchdog of China’s ruling Communist Party will establish permanent offices in some of the country’s most important party and government departments, state media said on Friday, as part of a sweeping campaign against …
Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa sworn into office, leads race to succeed Mugabe
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn into office on Friday, cementing his status as the leading candidate to succeed his 90-year-old boss Robert Mugabe, the country’s sole ruler since independence from Britain in 19…
India Hindu group plans religious conversions at Christmas
LUCKNOW, India (Reuters) – A Hindu priest-turned-lawmaker vowed on Friday to convert hundreds of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism on Christmas Day, despite a police investigation into an earlier round of conversions.
