Iranian denies plan to attack Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan
BAKU (Reuters) – An Iranian man arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on the Israeli embassy in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan denies the allegation, an Iranian diplomat said on Thursday.
Kenya warns of ICC threat to Eastern Africa’s stability
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Kenya said the International Criminal Court’s case against its two highest elected officials risked destabilizing the entire east African region at a meeting of the court’s member states on Thursday.
Rival militias quit Tripoli, hand bases to Libyan army
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Rival Libyan militias surrendered their bases to the army and retreated from Tripoli on Thursday in the face of popular anger against their refusal to disarm in the two years since they toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
France says Central African Republic on verge of genocide
PARIS (Reuters) – France said on Thursday that Central African Republic was “on the verge of genocide” and it expected the United Nations to give Paris and the African Union permission to intervene.
Three women held for 30 years rescued from house in London
LONDON (Reuters) – Three women claiming to have been held in captivity as domestic slaves for 30 years have been rescued from a house in London and a man and a woman arrested, police and charity workers said on Thursday.
Companies, port sought to destroy Syria poisons
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The global chemical weapons watchdog is urgently seeking commercial firms to destroy toxins from Syria’s poison gas arsenal, and trying to find a Mediterranean port where the deadliest chemicals can first be processed off-shore.
Lobbying outcry at UK parliament prompts call for review
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain must review whether lawmakers with outside commercial interests who are also paid to scrutinize government policy could damage the public’s perception of parliament before a 2015 election, the official watchdog said on Thursd…
UBAF bank confirms releasing Syrian funds for food deals
PARIS (Reuters) – Paris-based Union de Banques Arabes Francaises (UBAF) said on Thursday it had agreed to release Syrian funds to pay for food deals, suggesting Damascus is making headway in its complex moves to finance imports of staple supplies.
Police rescue three women held for up to 30 years in London house
LONDON (Reuters) – British police said they arrested two people on Thursday after three women were rescued from a London home after being held against their will for up to 30 years.
Chile’s Pinera says not planning a presidential comeback
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said on Thursday he is not grooming for a 2017 re-election bid, likely curbing months of speculation that the unpopular conservative may be eyeing a comeback.