Putin orders combat readiness checks for troops in Russia’s east
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has ordered snap checks of troops’ combat readiness in Russia’s far east, the latest in a series of military drills this year as tensions have mounted over the crisis in Ukraine.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni
Rebel-turned-statesman Museveni is one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, securing the presidency in 1986 after leading troops through the bush to oust Milton Obote and declaring that his presidency was “not a mere change of guard” from one strongman…
British PM begs Scots not to break up ‘family of nations’
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday begged Scots not to rip apart the United Kingdom’s “family of nations”, flying to Scotland to man the barricades against a surge in support for independence eight days before a ref…
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam
Navin Ramgoolam, the son of the man who led Mauritius to independence in 1968, was prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and won office again in 2005 when his coalition defeated the supporters of then premier Paul Bérenger.
Islamic State’s financial independence poses quandary for its foes
BAGHDAD/DUBAI (Reuters) – Sometimes they came pretending to buy things. Sometimes they texted, sometimes they called, but the message was always the same: “Give us money.”
North Korea ready to give Japan report on abductees: Kyodo
TOKYO (Reuters) – North Korea is ready to provide Japan with initial findings from a special investigating team that looked into the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang’s agents decades ago, Kyodo news agency quoted a North Korean diplomat …
Special Report: Scots warm to the power of Yes
GLASGOW Scotland (Reuters) – In late August, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling shared the stage as part of the push to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.
China’s Communist Party expels former aide to retired security chief
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party has expelled a former aide to retired security chief Zhou Yongkang and accused him of taking bribes, the government said on Thursday, the latest move against people close to Zhou as part of a graft pro…
Dry West Bank ridge becomes focus of Israel-Palestinian tension
JAB’A West Bank (Reuters) – The rocky valley north of Jab’a, scattered with olive and pine trees and dry streams long evaporated by the searing heat, would be unremarkable had it not become the latest point of friction between Israel and the Palestinia…
Philippines’ Aquino seeks more power for government to avert electricity crisis
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino said he would ask Congress to allow the government to enter into energy supply contracts, for the first time since the industry was privatised in 2001, to avert a looming power shortage next year.
